A staffer for Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate has been fired after his old tweets and Instagrams have resurfaced – including one post calling for the execution of President Donald Trump.
Manny Orozco-Ballestas, 24, was hired to run the youth outreach program for Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign less than two weeks ago.
But the staffer, who previously worked for Hillary Clinton’s presidential and Philip Levine’s gubernatorial campaigns, has come under fire for his controversial old posts that ultimately led to his termination over the weekend.
He was first called out for an Instagram post from last summer where he wears a shirt depicting the 2016 electoral map that defined blue states as ‘The United States of America’ and red states that voted for Trump as ‘Dumbf***istan’.
Manny Orozco-Ballestas has been fired from his role as youth outreach staffer for Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who is running for Florida governor. Mayor Gillum pictured above
Orozco-Ballestas was fired after less than two weeks in the position after his old posts were outed by a conservative blog. In an Instagram from last summer he wore a sweater depicting the 2016 electoral map where red states were called ‘Dumbf***istan’
On top of that, old tweets from 2013 to 2013 reveal misogynistic messages and a death wish to Trump saying ‘@realDonaldTrump you need to be executed’.
The shirt was first reported by conservative blog Central Florida Post on September 26, and expressed outrage over the shirt’s message.
His old tweets were then later exposed by Central Florida Post blogger Jacob Engels pointing to posts where he fat shames, is derogatory towards women, and writes ‘If you weren’t so ugly I would put my d*** in your face’.
Following the post the Republican Party of Florida released a statement calling for Andrew Gillum to fire Orozco-Ballestas.
He was fired over the weekend after his old Instagram resurfaced and an old tweet from 2013 saying ‘@realDonaldTrump you need to be executed’. He released this statement following his termination
‘It is unbelievable to me that Andrew Gillum would not only employ, but promote on social media, a person who calls voters “dumb f***s” for electing Republicans. It is hypocritical for Gillum to endorse the same kind of hateful, intolerant speech that he likes to denounce,’ RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia wrote.
A spokeswoman for Gillum told the Tampa Bay Times they addressed the explicit sweater with Orozco-Ballestas following the blog post.
He was fired and his Twitter account was deleted by Saturday morning. The Gillum campaign has not commented on the exact date or reason for his termination.
‘The type of language this young man used on social media before his employment with our campaign is unacceptable and he will no longer be working with the campaign,’ Gillum’s campaign spokesperson Joshua Karp said in a statement.
Following his termination Orozco-Ballestas shared his own statement.
In 2013 Orozco-Ballestas tweeted at Trump saying ‘you need to be executed’
Other old tweets have been exposed by conservative blog Central Florida Post such as this fat shaming post
Other old tweets by the staffer are of a misogynistic and derogatory nature
His old tweets have been criticized as being extremely derogatory towards women
‘I am embarrassed, angry, and disappointed in myself. This is painful and frustrating all at the same time. As a young person, you never imagine it will happen to you, until it does. I took social media for granted when I was younger and I am now facing the consequences.
‘Having served as the only statewide youth director in the state of Florida for two extraordinary candidates, during this unprecedented election cycle, was the greatest joy of my young professional career.
‘I’m so sorry to all those I let down, especially Mayor Gillum and my team. What I tweeted as an immature student many years ago is not a reflection of the man I am today. I will continue finding ways to fight for what is right for as long as I can, however I can – America is worth it and there is way too much at stake
‘Onward. – Manny Orozco,’ he wrote.
A Wednesday poll shows that Gillum has a nine point lead over DeSantis in the gubernatorial election – 54 per cent to 45 per cent.