A Republican campaign aide has been fired after a photo linked to Nazi imagery surfaced online. The aide worked as political director for Senator Jon Husted’s Ohio race.
Husted dismissed the staffer over social media activity that showed a “complete lack” of judgment. A campaign spokeswoman confirmed the firing on Friday.
The photo appeared on the aide’s personal account before joining the campaign. It showed a symbol associated with Nazi Germany.
Campaign officials said they acted as soon as they learned about the image. The aide was removed from the payroll immediately.
Husted is running in one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. Ohio is a key battleground for both parties this cycle.
The campaign declined to release further details about the photo. It also did not say when the image was first posted.
The firing comes as Republicans face renewed scrutiny over extremist ties. Democrats quickly seized on the incident to criticize Husted’s vetting process.
Husted’s team said the aide’s views do not reflect the campaign. The spokeswoman added that such behavior will not be tolerated.
