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Secret Service Investigating N.H. State Rep. Who Said Clinton Should Be Executed

The Secret Service is investigating a New Hampshire state representative and Donald Trump adviser who said Hillary Clinton “should be put in the firing line and shot for treason.”

Baldasaro, a Republican from Londonderry, made the comments Tuesday during an appearance on the Jeff Kuhner Show.

“She is a disgrace for the lies that she told those mothers about their children that got killed over there in Benghazi. She dropped the ball on over 400 emails requesting back up security. Something’s wrong there. I wish they'd made the documents public on why (Ambassador Chris Stevens) was there. In my mind - were they moving guns? How did they know he was even there? ” he said. “The whole thing disgusts me. Hillary Clinton should be put in the firing line and shot for treason.”

In the interview first reported byBuzzfeed, Baldasaro also called Clinton “a piece of garbage.”

Baldasaro responded on Twitter early Thursday morning: "All the Liberals who are attacking me, have no clue what was actually said. You just believe the Liberal Media. Trust but Verify."

Secret Service spokesman Robert Hoback says the agency is aware of the comments, and "will conduct the appropriate investigation."

Jennifer Horn, chair of the state Republican Party, quickly denounced Baldasaro's comments, calling them "appalling."

"Calls for violence in politics are never appropriate," she said. "I condemn his statement in the strongest terms possible and urge him to immediately apologize."

Baldasaro is representing New Hampshire as a Trump delegate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this week. He’s been a supporter of Trump and has spoken at several of his events.

Clinton Communications Director Jen Palmieri released the following statement in response: "Donald Trump's overtaking of the Republican Party - and his constant escalation of outrageous rhetoric - is in danger of mainstreaming the kind of hatred that has long been on the fringes of American politics where it belongs."

"This week at the Republican convention, we've seen the clearest embodiment yet of this dangerous phenomenon," Palmieri added.  

The Trump campaign tried to distance itself from the comments, with spokeswoman Hope Hicks saying the campaign doesn't agree with Baldasaro's remarks. 

Trump has referred to Baldasaro as his “favorite vet.” Baldasaro refers to himself as an adviser to Trump on veterans’ issues.

Reached Wednesday, Baldasaro refused to back down from the comments, according to the Boston Globe.

“Freedom of speech is a beautiful thing. I spoke my mind about how I feel,” he told the Globe.

The state Democratic Party is calling on Baldasaro to resign.

State Party Chair Ray Buckley called the comments “disgusting, offensive and frighteningly commonplace in the party of Trump.”

“Baldasaro has embarrassed the Granite State long enough,” Buckley said. “I’m calling on (state Republican Party Chair Jennifer Horn) to repudiate his dangerous and divisive remarks and to publicly ask for his resignation.”

Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.
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