Pennsylvania Democratic lawmaker refutes authorship of racist, homophobic tweets

The Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee accused Democratic state senator Jimmy Dillon of making racist and homophobic remarks on social media over a decade ago. Dillon denied writing the offensive tweets and claimed he is not a big social media user. The SRCC provided screenshots of the tweets, which included derogatory language towards Black, Asian, and LGBTQ individuals. Dillon, who runs a basketball academy in Philadelphia, stated that if any offensive tweets were made under his account, he was not aware of them and they do not reflect his values. Dillon, who won a special election in May 2022 and is seeking reelection, emphasized his focus on standing up to extremist groups and protecting women’s reproductive rights. The SRCC called for his condemnation and questioned his ability to be an unbiased legislator. A spokesperson for Dillon dismissed the accusations as distractions from important issues, such as reproductive rights and gun violence legislation. The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee also denied the allegations and highlighted Dillon’s advocacy for marginalized communities. It remains unclear who wrote the offensive tweets highlighted by the SRCC, as the Hoops 24-7 account frequently shares posts from Dillon’s account. Dillon’s campaign spokesperson criticized the SRCC for focusing on old tweets while overlooking crucial legislative matters.

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