SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The only Republican in the California Legislature’s Jewish Caucus has resigned from the group the same day it criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the white nationalist rally in Virginia.
Sen. Jeff Stone of Temecula said Thursday he left the caucus because of its criticism of Trump and because it had strayed from its nonpartisan aims.
“Since the election of President Trump, it seems that there has been a divergence from the Caucus’ original mission,” Stone said in a statement. “It has clearly become a vehicle for a Legislative Caucus that receives state resources to merely criticize our duly elected President.”
A spokesman for Stone said the senator was unavailable to comment on whether he resigned because of the group’s statement on the Charlottesville, Virginia, rally last weekend. Stone has not made his own statement on the rally or Trump’s response to it.
Earlier Thursday, the Jewish caucus released a statement condemning Trump for saying some of the rally attendees were “very fine people” and accused the president of betraying American values.
“We cannot and will not stand silently by as Trump gives voice to organizations steeped in an ideology of bigotry, hate and violence,” the statement said. “As our President, he must demonstrate to the nation and the world that he will not stand idly by in the face of such hatred, bigotry and violence.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.