GOP Senator Fires Campaign Staffer After WaPo Flags Nazi Profile Photo

AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

Sen. Jon Husted’s (R-OH) reelection campaign fired its political director after The Washington Post raised questions about his social media history, including a Facebook profile photo depicting Nazi SS soldiers and a Spotify playlist dedicated to Rhodesia.

Stephen Woytek, 25, joined Husted’s campaign as political director in August as the Republican senator faces former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH).

According to Friday’s report from the Post, Woytek changed his Facebook profile picture in 2018 to an image of soldiers from the Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler division — a unit that started as Adolf Hitler’s personal bodyguards. The photo, which showed soldiers holding captured Soviet banners, remained publicly accessible as of Friday.

Woytek’s Facebook activity also showed that he followed a historical reenactment organization portraying the same SS division. Photos linked to the group appeared to show Woytek, then 16, dressed in an SS uniform during a 2018 reenactment. The Post noted that Woytek has also participated in reenactments portraying Union soldiers in the Civil War and Americans fighting in World War II.

More recently, a Spotify account bearing Woytek’s name and photo created a public playlist titled “Tales From Rhodesia,” described as “homesick for a place that no longer exists.” Songs were added as recently as last month.

Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, was governed by a White minority that resisted a transition to majority rule and has since become a symbol embraced by white supremacists. The playlist included songs celebrating Rhodesia, including one containing a racial slur for African soldiers.

Husted’s campaign cut ties with Woytek after the Post reached out for comment.

“While he denies negative intent, his social media activity displays a complete lack of judgement and disregard for its impact on others,” a Husted spokeswoman said, adding, “Sen. Husted demands better of those who represent him. Upon learning about the social media posts today, Sen. Husted made the immediate decision to part ways.”

Woytek denied embracing Nazi ideology.

“I want to be unequivocal: I reject the racist and antisemitic ideology the SS and Nazi Germany represented,” he said in a statement to the paper, explaining that he participates in historical reenactments because “I believe it is important to educate our younger generations,” and acknowledging he should have “exercised better judgment when posting about my activities online.”

“I am utterly heartbroken, but respectfully am parting ways with his campaign,” Woytek added.

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