Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted terminated his campaign’s political director, Stephen Woytek, on Friday. The decision followed reports regarding Woytek’s social media activity, which included a Facebook profile picture depicting Nazi officers and a public music playlist containing songs associated with Rhodesia, a former unrecognized state frequently referenced by white supremacist groups.

A spokesperson for Husted’s campaign confirmed the dismissal to the press, indicating that the campaign was unaware of the content until it was brought to their attention. The campaign emphasized that the views expressed in the posts do not align with Husted’s values or the standards of his political organization. Woytek, who served as a key figure in Husted’s political operations, has not issued a public statement regarding his departure or the nature of the posts.

While the facts of the firing are not in dispute, the incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny of political staff and their digital histories. The swift nature of the termination suggests an effort by the Husted campaign to distance the office from the controversy immediately. No further details regarding the vetting process for campaign staff or potential internal reviews have been provided by the campaign office at this time.