Republican Candidate Ron Vogel Apologizes For Old Social Media Posts

CHESTER COUNTY — Chester County Republican Ron Vogel apologized on his Congressional campaign website to anyone who may have felt uncomfortable when his old social media posts, which opponents have criticized as racist, anti-Semetic and sexist, recently surfaced.

“I ask you to forgive this,” Vogel said, concluding a four-minute and 20-second video. “I am terribly sorry if you felt uncomfortable with any of the words presented. I don’t intentionally try to offend anyone.”

Vogel, 36, of Chester Springs, said Wednesday the posts were taken out of context, and denied any offensive intent.

As a result of the old social media posts, the Chester County Republican Committee has censured him, taking him off of their website.

He said he was offered a chance to suspend his campaign to avoid the censure.

At first, Vogel said he agreed to step down, but the following day he changed his mind.

“I am forging ahead with the campaign,” he said.

Vogel is one of four candidates running on the Republican ticket for the Sixth Congressional seat, which covers all of Chester County and southeastern Berks County.

The others are Regina Mauro, 57, Devon; Steve Fanelli, 60,West Chester; and Guy Ciarrocchi, 57, Tredyffrin Township.

U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Chester County Democrat, is running unopposed.

Vogel said he and candidate Guy Ciarrocchi were initially both recommended by the Republican committee.

The committee members vote for candidates to endorse or recommend. Vogel said he was not invited to the meeting to explain what occurred. He said posts were taken out of context and were politically motivated.

The committee did not respond to several requests to comment on the censure process.

Ciarrocchi said he was humbled to receive the official recommendation of the Republican Committee of Chester County.

“I have spent the majority of my life working to promote conservative ideas and solutions—and, to grow my party,” Ciarrocchi said. “When I am elected, I look forward to tackling the issues of inflation, increasing security in our cities and along our border, our kid’s education and energy independence.”

Vogel, meanwhile, said he never expected to be involved in this situation.

On Wednesday, Vogel posted a second video explaining that the social media posts were from over 10 years ago and were taken out of context.

He said in the video that only 18 people on the committee voted to censure him. He said that that committee did not have his explanation about the social media posts.

Explanation of old social media posts

Vogel said in the first video that he grew up in a generation that watched the television show, “South Park,” an adult cartoon satire with dark humor.

“Like most people I have said some things that were a little edgy,” Vogel said.

He said he posted a video on his personal Facebook video that was a parody of Hitler ranting in

German after the Penguins were losing to the Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

He said he was shocked to be called a Nazi when about a quarter of his family is Jewish.

Vogel said he also posted a song with a name he didn’t want to say from a heavy metal band.