Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, D., has repeatedly refused to label arson attacks on his home with hate crimes, saying such designations will be left to the prosecutors.
ABC News Anchor George Stephanopulos has been pressing the governor on whether the attack is a hate crime, and even Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) last week said he wrote to the Justice Department last week asking the case to be investigated as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
“I don’t know if it’s helpful to have an opinion outside here. George is George, whoever they are,” Shapiro told Anchor.
Shapiro detailed his resistance to labeling the incident as a hate crime.
“As a former prosecutor, I know how important it is to follow the evidence, apply the law, and do so without giving fear or benefits,” Shapiro said.
“In this case, I am the victim of a crime. I am not a prosecutor. The prosecutor weighs all the different evidence and determines what the motive is,” he continued. “I don’t think it’s my job to stick to it, to focus on it.”
In Schumer’s April 17 letter to Attorney General Pam Bondy, the Democratic leader called for “immediate and serious federal scrutiny,” citing a deeply troubling allegation that the suspect targeted Governor Shapiro based on his religious identity.
Schumer writes that the suspect burned the house and allegedly caused great damage while Shapiro’s family was sleeping inside.
Schumer said the timing of the attack during Passover and the suspect’s statement to the 911 operator wanted to send a message to Pennsylvania leaders about “calling a monster” about “what they want to do to the Palestinians.”
In an interview, Shapiro condemned the rise in political violence and called on all leaders to clearly condemn the incident when it occurs, regardless of which party is being targeted.
“This is sadly a real part of our society today and needs to be universally condemned. George. I don’t care if it’s coming from the left or not. I don’t care if it’s coming from the person you voted for, or someone from your team, or someone from another team.
