Washington Times: “The Virginia Republican Party on Thursday demanded an ethics investigation into the University of Virginia’s top elections forecaster, Larry Sabato, over his tweets that they say display ‘bitter partisanship’ in favor of Democrats. State GOP Party chairman Rich Anderson sent a letter to University of Virginia president James Ryan alerting the school to the social media posts by Mr. Sabato, the founder and director of the university’s nonpartisan Center for Politics.”
“‘A reasonable taxpaying citizen can readily conclude that Dr. Sabato is demonstrating the rankest form of bitter partisanship,’ Mr. Anderson wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Times. ‘In order to have faith in our institutions, it is essential that Virginians hold accountable those public employees and officials who violate institutional values, codes of conduct, and other guidelines of professional behavior.’ Among the tweets that Mr. Anderson listed as examples were several disparaging former President Donald Trump, particularly over his unproven claims of widespread voter fraud in the aftermath of the 2020 election. ‘Cuckoo, cuckoo! Does the plush presidential suite at Walter Reed offer psychiatric treatments? Maybe time to helicopter Trump over again,’ Mr. Sabato tweeted on Dec. 2 in response to a Washington Post article citing a 46-minute video of Trump discussing election fraud. On June 2, Mr. Sabato responded to reports that alleged Mr. Trump believes he will be reinstated into office in the summer. ‘Of course it’s true,’ Mr. Sabato tweeted. ‘Trump, who governed on the edge of insanity for four long years, has gone over the edge. Yet millions of people and 90%+ of GOP members of Congress, still genuflect before this false god.’ Mr. Anderson also pointed to a July 7 tweet by Mr. Sabato which he claims ‘repeats Democratic talking points’ in Virginia’s gubernatorial race.”