(The Center Square) – The Ohio Jewish Caucus denounced the state’s Republican junior U.S. senator on Friday for using a Nazi reference aimed at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Several media outlets reported Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, called the New York Democrat “Fuhrer,” a title that means leader but is most associated with Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany.
Moreno, elected in November, reportedly made the comment Thursday to reporters outside of the Senate after the chamber continued debate on trying to pass President Donald Trump’s tax cuts.
“Here’s the main thing you’ve got to understand,” Moreno said, as reported by Reuters. “Republicans are independently minded. Democrats are monolithic sheep that follow the Fuhrer Schumer’s orders.”
Schumer is the nation’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official.
The Ohio Jewish Caucus called the actions repugnant and wants Moreno to apologize.
“Senator Moreno owes Leader Schumer and Jews across the country, especially here in Ohio, an apology for using a term with such an obvious connotation to the horrific events of the Holocaust,” the Ohio Jewish Caucus said in a statement. “His repugnant behavior does not represent Ohio or serve the people of our state in any way.”
The caucus consists of Reps. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio, D-Gahanna, Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, Christine Cockley, D-Columbus, Eric Synenberg, D-Beachwood, Karen Brownlee, D-Symmes Township, and Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson.
