Sen. Jon Husted’s campaign (R-OH) announced it was “parting ways” with its political director Friday after a report said he had once used a photograph of Nazi SS soldiers as his Facebook profile picture.
Stephen Woytek, 25, joined the Ohio Republican’s campaign in August as Husted prepared to face former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in November’s special election.
The photo in question, posted to Woytek’s account in 2018 when he was 16, featured German SS soldiers holding captured Soviet banners, according to The Washington Post. The image remained publicly accessible Friday, although it was unclear how long Woytek used it as his profile picture.
After the Post contacted the campaign, Husted spokeswoman Amy Natoce announced that Woytek would be let go.
“Steve serves our country honorably as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and is a proud graduate of The Citadel,” Natoce said. “He studies military history and routinely reenacts historical battles.”
“While he denies negative intent, his social media activity displays a complete lack of judgment and disregard for its impact on others,” she continued. “Sen. Husted demands better of those who represent him. Upon learning about the social media posts today, Sen. Husted made the immediate decision to part ways.”
Husted’s spokeswoman did not indicate whether the photo was posted in relation to the historical reenactments in which Woytek had taken part — nor did she say whether that would have changed the outcome. The Washington Post did note, however, that Woytek follows a military reenactment group that does portray a German SS division. The LAH Living History Unit describes itself as “a US-based historical reenacting society portraying the 1.SS Panzer Division. We are a NON-POLITICAL group under the National WWII Living History Association.”
Woytek issued a statement regarding the photo, saying his interest in the topic was historical rather than ideological.
“I want to be unequivocal: I reject the racist and antisemitic ideology the SS and Nazi Germany represented,” he said. “I believe it is important to educate our younger generations, which is why I participate in historical reenactments.”
Woytek conceded that he should have “exercised better judgment when posting about my activities online.”
“I am utterly heartbroken, but respectfully am parting ways with his campaign,” he added.
Woytek’s immediate dismissal comes amid growing fears that the Republican Party may be forced to deal with an extreme wing of its own — in much the same way that Democrats are being forced to reckon with the rise of Democratic socialists within their party — in the form of groypers.
And while the statement from Husted’s spokeswoman does not indicate even the slightest concern that Woytek is a part of that particular culture, that culture’s existence alone could be enough reason for the Ohio senator to cut ties immediately.
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