(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Joe Severino, the GOP nominee for Illinois’ 10th district House seat, has used social media in the past to falsely blame the Highland Park shooting on the town’s mayor.

After the massacre, Severino wrote a Facebook comment in a private group blaming Mayor Nancy Rotering (D) for the shooting at the town’s Fourth of July parade that killed seven people and injured dozens.

“Further, people are celebrating Mayor Rotering as a leader when she is indirectly responsible for the shooting,” Severino falsely claimed. “She was running against the shooters father and well aware of this family’s turmoil.”

Screenshots taken on July 27, 2022 of Joe Severino’s comments baselessly blaming Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering for the July 4 shootings

 

There is no evidence that Rotering had any prior knowledge or tip that would have given her, or anyone else, prior knowledge of the shooter’s plan.

Severino is set to take on incumbent Rep. Brad Schneider (D) in the general election in November. Schneider’s campaign condemned the comments made in Severino’s Facebook post.

“Joe Severino’s misinformation around the Highland Park shooting is disgusting and has no place in our politics,” said Schneider’s campaign manager Matt Fried. “If he had a shred of decency, he would apologize to Mayor Rotering and the families of the victims whose memories he has sullied by lying about the tragedy and making common cause with conspiracy theorists.”

Fried’s comments were made a day after President Biden’s call for an assault weapon’s ban during a speech in Pennsylvania. A similar ban was put in place in 1994, which was in effect for ten years. During that time, mass shootings were not nearly as prevalent as they are today. Data suggests that gun violence recently became the number one cause of death for children in the United States.

“The bottom line is this: Easy access to dangerous assault weapons and our nation’s failed mental health care systems are contributing to the proliferation of monsters like the one who attacked Highland Park on July 4,” Fried continued.