UPDATED: EXCLUSIVE | State GOP Chair Speaks on Issue of Anti-Semitic and Homophobic Remarks by GOP Officials

UPDATED 1/4/2020 – The Anti Defamation League has condemned the recent Facebook comments by New Castle County GOP Chairman, Chris Rowe and Sussex County GOP Vice Chair Nelly Jordan. However the ADL is applauding a statement from State GOP Chair, Jane Brady, who has condemned the language used by both officials.  Rowe is tendering his resignation at the request of party leaders after he used homophobic language.  Sussex County Vice Chair Nelly Jordan is under fire for anti-Semitic remarks made online last month.  

“Neither I nor the Delaware Republican Party, which I represent, condone any statements that
demean or show disrespect to others. I have requested Chris Rowe’s resignation and he has
agreed to tender it. His comment was offensive and did not reflect the values of respect and
tolerance held dear by the Delaware Republican Party. Ultimately, as a result, he lost the
support of those he was to lead. Our Party includes individuals from all different backgrounds,
joined together to advance the principles we old dear. I am proud of Delaware Republicans and
their support for the broad range of diversity that makes our Party stronger.”

“The remarks made by Nelly Jordan, who was elected to her post by the Sussex County GOP
Executive Committee, were offensive, hurtful and anti-Semitic.

“The process is different for Jordan because she was elected into her post and not appointed,
unlike Rowe who was appointed to his position. Nelly will have to make a choice of either
resigning or going through a process to seek her removal.”

The next Sussex County Executive Committee Meeting is January 13th at the Manor House in Lewes. 

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Sussex County Republican Party Vice Chair Nelly Jordan is doubling down, refusing to apologize amid calls for her resignation after she used anti-Semitic language in a Facebook post.

Jordan appeared LIVE on Radio Free Delmarva on Thursday with Duke Brooks where she refused to resign despite calls for her to do so by a majority of Republicans, leaders in the party, and residents across Sussex County.

“I have no desire of being accused of something,” Jordan said. “I don’t have a shred of hate for anybody.”

On December 10th, 2019, Jordan published a lengthy post to Facebook where she singled out Jewish people during a rant about the Congressional impeachment hearings, saying “these jews have been enrolled to come and testify.”

Jordan defended her remarks and rejected calls for her resignation during the interview on Radio Free Delmarva.

“Everyone that is asking me for my resignation, and the ones who say that I am a bigot, read my post because there you will see there is nothing,” Jordan stated. “No terms are anti-Semitic.”

Jordan went on to claim that everything she said was referred to Democrats; however, in her post she repeatedly singled out Jewish people.

In the post, Jordan equated the Jewish faith to “left socialist believers” and then said “God please have mercy on them, some of the Jewish people are doing today as it was in the Old Testament; go against God’s will even after he had mercy on them.”

“Yes, I did say Jewish name only,” Jordan acknowledged during the interview with WGMD’s Duke Brooks. “It’s like saying rhinos, Republican name only, and that is really common to say. Is that considered an anti-Semitic term? You can tell me.”

During the interview, Jordan said she had a husband who was Jewish and that she worked as a bookkeeper for a Jewish couple who loved her back in Chile, her country of origin.

Jordan feels the only reason she’s being attacked is because she’s a Hispanic woman.

“The only reason I can see for this attack against me is because I am a woman, I am hispanic, and I’m not Democrat,” Jordan stated during the interview.

Jane Brady, Chair of the Delaware Republican Party, condemned the remarks made by Jordan, saying “I have condemned the comments that were made that appear to be anti-Semitic.”

New Castle County GOP Chair Chris Rowe came under fire this week as well after he used homophobic language on Facebook, describing what he said as “locker room talk” and saying it wasn’t meant to disparage homosexuals. He was forced to resign by party leaders who condemned what he said.

Brady said the process of resignation is different for Jordan because she was elected into her post and not appointed.

“There is a process different for Nelly than there would be for Chris Rowe because of the nature of how she came into her office, she was elected by the Sussex County Republican Executive Committee,” Brady explained. “Nelly will have to make a choice of either resigning or going through a process to seek her removal.”

Sussex County GOP Chair Don Petitmermet issued a statement Thursday evening following the interview with Jordan, saying he takes the situation very seriously and that the committee will be moving forward with procedures to evaluate her conduct.

“In today’s hyper-political environment words are often used without much thought as to their actual meaning,” Petitmermet stated. “We can and must do better. The actions of Jordan are my concern and I take the situation very seriously.”

Petitmermet said the Sussex County Republican Party has procedures procedures for evaluating the conduct of our members and holding them accountable where required.

“The procedures have been used in the past and will be scrupulously adhered to in this case as well,” he stated. “As the official responsible for ensuring these procedures are conducted properly and fairly, it is not appropriate for me to comment publicaly about the matter further.”

The Sussex County Republican Party is expected to hold an Executive Session on Monday where they will hold a vote on whether or not Jordan should resign.