MLB umpire Rob Drake apologizes for threatening to start civil war over Trump’s impeachment

Rob Drake, the major league umpire who threatened on Twitter to buy an assault rifle and ignite a civil war if President Donald Trump is impeached, has apologized for the social media post.

‘Once I read what I had tweeted I realized the violence in those words and have since deleted it,’ Drake said in the statement given to ESPN. ‘I know that I cannot unsay the words, but please accept my sincerest apologies.’

Drake stressed that he regrets minimizing the effects of gun violence in his since-deleted tweet.

‘I want to personally apologize to everyone that my words made feel less safe,’ Drake’s statement began. ‘I especially want to apologize to every person who has been affected by gun violence in our country.

‘I also acknowledge and apologize for the controversy this has brought to Major League Baseball, my fellow umpires and my family. I never intended to diminish the threat of violence from assault weapons, or violence of any kind.’

Drake also wrote that he is ‘going to learn from’ the episode, which began earlier this week when the 50-year-old suggested on Twitter that a new ‘Cival’ War was coming.

‘I will be buying an AR-15 tomorrow, because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL (sic) WAR!!! #MAGA2020’ the tweet read in full, according to ESPN reporter Jeff Passan, who saw it before its deletion.

 ESPN reporter Jeff Passan allegedly saw the tweet before it was swiftly deleted

The tweet followed one written earlier in the night, which reportedly read: ‘You can’t do an impeachment inquiry from the basement of Capital (sic) Hill without even a vote! What is going on in this country?’

Drake has since deleted his account.

Commissioner Rob Manfred announced an investigation into the matter on Thursday.

In a statement, the MLB Umpires Association described Drake as a ‘passionate individual and an outstanding umpire,’ adding that he ‘chose the wrong way to convey his opinion about our great country.’

USA Today unearthed previous posts said to have been penned by the umpire, including one in which he proclaimed Barack Obama was not born in the United States.

Another tweet from Drake’s account was addressed to Hillary Clinton and read: ‘What really happened at Benghazzi? F**king liar’.

Drake has been a full-time MLB umpire since 2010.

Reaction to Drake’s now-deleted tweet has been overwhelmingly negative, with one person writing: ‘He blew up his career and reputation for his 324 followers’.

Another wrote: ‘Man, I hope @MLB fires your a**’

However, others claimed that Drake had the right to express his political opinions.

Drake’s account was swiftly deleted, but not before USA Today unearthed a number of previous political tweets the umpire had purportedly penned

Some on Twitter thought Drake was merely expressing his support for the President, while others say his post was inciting violence

‘As much as I hate Trump, everyone is entitled to their opinion even if I don’t agree,’ one wrote.

‘I see nothing wrong with his tweet actually,’ a second person chimed in.

Others hit back, claiming that Drake was essentially advocating violence.

‘Threatening a civil war is nothing wrong? Why are so many people amped up at the thought of a new civil war? ‘ one asked.

Another added: ‘A private company like the @MLB is entitled to fire anyone they feel isn’t representing their brand properly.’