Carl Paladino Says DOJ’s Merrick Garland Should 'Probably Be Executed': Report

BUFFALO, NY — Republican congressional candidate Carl Paladino said during an interview this week that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland should "probably be executed" following the FBI's search of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, according to a report.

Paladino, known as an off-the-cuff politician who emailed bestiality porn to colleagues and praises Adolf Hitler, made the comments during a segment with Breitbart Radio, the Buffalo News reported.

He later walked back the comment when asked about it, claiming he was just "being facetious."

"The man should be removed from office,” Paladino said. “He shows his incompetence. He wants to get his face in front of the people and show he’s got some mettle to him, but his choice of issues and choice of methodology is very sad."

Paladino, a millionaire real estate developer who was the party’s candidate for governor of New York in 2010, is in a close primary fight with New York Republican State Committee Chairman Nick Langworthy. Paladino has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik.

This is hardly the first time Paladino has said something controversial.

In June, Paladino called Hitler "the kind of leader we need today."

"He would get up there screaming these epithets and these people were just, they were hypnotized by him," he said. "I guess, I guess that’s the kind of leader we need today. We need somebody inspirational. We need somebody that is a doer."

In 2016, the New York Times reported that Paladino made comments about President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. In an interview, he wished Barack Obama to die from mad cow disease and said Michelle Obama should be "let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe."

Despite being in politics for more than a decade, Paladino has never been elected to a position beyond the Buffalo school board, Politico reported, a job he was later removed from after sharing confidential details of contract negotiations.