A pair of Pennsylvania lawmakers suggested this week that State Governor Josh Shapiro is partially responsible for the arson attack that damaged a portion of his property.

Why It Matters

Shapiro’s Harrisburg residence was engulfed in flames on Sunday, prompting Pennsylvania State Police to wake up him, his wife and four children. Shapiro, a Democrat and a Jew, had celebrated Passover Seder the day before with family and friends.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested on suspicion of setting fire to the property. He faces charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault. President Donald Trump, when asked about the incident, said Balmer is “probably just a whack job” while adding that the suspect “was not a fan of Trump, I understand, just from what I read and from what I’ve been told.”

What To Know

U.S. Representative Dan Meuser, who represents Pennsylvania’s 9th District, and Pennsylvania GOP Chair Greg Rothman, a state senator, made remarks this week seeming to partially implicate Shapiro due to his purported rhetoric against the president.

Meuser appeared Tuesday on The Bob Cordaro Show on WILK Newsradio.

“This guy [Balmer] is a psycho, of course, and our hearts go out to the Shapiro family,” Meuser said. “But they’ve got to tone it down, too. I mean, every action Josh Shapiro has taken against the president has either been a lawsuit or a falsehood. That’s not helpful either.”

When told of the remarks, Shapiro was surprised and said the following while attending a local ribbon cutting ceremony: “Look, I’ve said for years, leaders have responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity. It would appear that the congressman failed to measure up to that.”

Meuser’s office released a statement, deflecting the comments and maligning Shapiro on his legislative record.

“What I said in a recent interview and what I meant is that the broader political rhetoric we’re seeing from both sides is dangerous,” Meuser told NBC affiliate WGAL. “There have been two assassination attempts on President Trump. What frustrates me is when leaders make outrageous, false claims, like the governor stating President Trump’s policies would make Pennsylvanians go hungry.”

Critics say that Meuser’s statements regarding Shapiro’s policies for food funding are inaccurate.

Meuser seemed to double down on his remarks during a later appearance on the Newsmax program Wake Up America, in which he said Shapiro and other Democrats have not renounced violence in the form of Tesla dealership protests, for example.

“I got into a little controversy with Governor Shapiro because I stated he makes comments where he said President Trump is an existential threat to democracy, and he recently stated very falsely that President Trump and the administration was withholding funding for food for hungry Pennsylvanians. … When you say things like that, that creates hatred. And where does hatred go?” Meuser said.

Newsweek reached out to his office for comment about the remarks.

Rothman, a realtor who formerly served nearly 10 years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, was designated as the top statewide conservative in February to helm the Republican State Committee.

During an appearance on Newsmax on Thursday, Rothman said his heart goes out to Shapiro and his family and is happy they’re safe.

“But he needs to, as a member of the Democratic Party, call out this violence. Just last month the Republican state headquarters in New Mexico was fire-bombed. We know what’s going on in the Tesla dealerships.

“This has to stop, but let’s be clear, it is coming from the left. And it may be the hardcore left, but we have to reject it in America. We’re better than this; this is how democracies fall, when you allow violence to be part of political differences.”

What People Are Saying

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Sunday after the attack: “This type of violence is not ok. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or at one particular person or another, it has to be stop. We have to be better than this.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in statement on Sunday: “I am deeply relieved that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe, thankful for the first responders who arrived on the scene, and applaud the police work that resulted in an arrest just hours ago.”

What Happens Next

Balmer is expected back in court for a preliminary hearing on April 23.