An employee of a public radio station in New York has been fired after the Washington Free Beacon reported on emails sent from the station’s official account criticizing a Republican congressman and U.S. Army veteran.
One of the emails told Rep. Chris Gibson (R., N.Y.), a former Army colonel who served four combat tours in Iraq, to "find a real job like the rest of us and not live off the taxpayers [sic] money as he has done his whole life."
The Free Beacon reported on the emails, sent by a staffer at WIOX radio, last week. Its parent radio station, Binghamton-based WSKG, said on Saturday that the employee responsible for the emails has been fired.
On October 1st, 2014, WSKG became aware through media reports of an email sent to the Gibson Campaign from a WIOX email address containing a personal attack. On October 2nd, immediately upon identification, the individual suspected of writing the email was suspended, pending a complete investigation. We have apologized to Congressman Gibson through his office and the responsible party will be terminated. Although free dialogue and lively debate is an important part of our political culture, these statements clearly went beyond what is acceptable in the political arena and crossed over into the personal. For the attacks leveled against Congressman Gibson and his honorable service to the country, we again apologize.
The emails gained national attention, including a segment on the show Fox and Friends.
Gibson is coasting to reelection against Democratic challenger Sean Eldridge, the husband of Facebook co-founder and New Republic owner Chris Hughes.