Gop Representative Says ‘left Has To Look In The Mirror Too’ After Condemning Shapiro Arson Attack

GOP Rep. Dan Meuser said the “Left has to look in the mirror too” after condemning an arson attack against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, citing what he calls Democrats’ use of “violent and hostile commentary” as a contributing factor for these kinds of attacks.

“Our hearts go out to the Shapiro family on this, but they gotta tone it down too,” Meuser, a fellow Pennsylvanian, said in a radio segment on a local conservative talk show the lawmaker posted to his X page Tuesday. “Every action Josh Shapiro has taken so far against the president has either been a lawsuit or a falsehood.”

Shapiro and his family were awoken early Sunday — after they celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover — after a man broke into the governor’s mansion and set fire to the residence. The suspect, identified as Cody Balmer, allegedly told police he did so because Shapiro “needs to know that he ‘will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,’” according to documents released by police on Wednesday.

Shapiro and his family, along with staff in the residence, were forced to evacuate the building and no injuries were reported. Balmer was taken into custody later that day and is facing charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault.

Meuser condemned the attack in the segment, but was quick to highlight other recent attacks, including the Tesla Albuquerque showroom and the Republican headquarters in New Mexico. He said that these kinds of attacks have occurred on both sides of the aisle, but Democrats need to tone down their “violent” rhetoric.

Meuser’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

Bob Cordaro, the local radio host, in agreement with Meuser’s comments on the attack, seemed to place blame on Shapiro himself.

“His incompetence in protecting the governor’s mansion, which is all of ours, not just his family,” he said. “And it is charred, it is substantially damaged, and man he better get to the bottom of the incompetence that allowed it to happen.”

The governor responded to Meuser’s comments in a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

“I’ve said for years leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity. It would appear that the congressman failed to measure up to that,” Shapiro said.