Daily Beast reporter Olivia Nuzzi argued in an op-ed on Tuesday that Donald Trump's campaign style paved the way for one of his supporters -- who is also running for office -- to harass her saying he "hoped" she would be raped.
"When a former reality TV star can become the Republican nominee while offending and belittling entire genders, races and religions, why wouldn't a man seeking local office think that encouraging the rape of a woman he hates is OK?" Nuzzi wrote.
Nuzzi revealed on Monday that Mike Krawitz hit her with a series of belligerent Facebook comments after she posted a story regarding Trump's second wife, Marla Maples.
"F*ck. You. Olivia, I. Hope. Somebody. Rapes. You. Today. :)" Krawitz wrote, adding, "Hope. You. Get. Raped. By. A. Syrian. Refugee. :)"
That outburst, she said, was part of a pattern of abuse dating back to December 2014, including one post this past August when he called her an "Ugly. Stupid. C*nt."
"In the age of Trump, bullying has been rebranded as telling it like it is," Nuzzi stated. "Using obscene or threatening language is a point of pride, proof that you're beholden to nothing but the truth. And anyone who can’t handle that? Well, they’re just a politically correct loser."
Krawitz's admiration for Trump is evident on his Facebook page, which is riddled with pictures of the Republican presidential nominee. At one point, he had support from local party members in Gloucester County, New Jersey during his latest run for the West Deptford Township Committee.
But according to Nuzzi, that backing has vanished in the wake of her revealing his threats. The chair of the county's GOP executive committee, Jim Philbin, said in an email that he called for Krawitz to resign, while the West Deptford Executive Board said in a statement, "We have been informed he is resigning."
The Cherry Hill Courier-Post reported that someone claiming to be Krawitz stated in a "crudely scribbled" letter that he would withdraw from the election. However, Gloucester County officials have yet to confirm whether the handwriting matches Krawitz's.
