The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh is expressing its concerns after Sunday's fire at the Governor's Mansion.
While the motive of suspected arsonist Cody Balmer is unknown beyond his professing hatred of Governor Shapiro, the Jewish Federation is concerned.
The Federation's David Heyman says the fact that it happened in the room where the Governor and his family had just celebrated a Passover Seder hours before, is alone disturbing.
“The history of attacks on Jews is a long and troubled one,” said Heyman. “So, we can’t help but make the connection and feel, sort of, a special pain when an attack like this occurs on that date.”
Heyman says without a specific motive, they won't attribute one to Balmer, but says the facts alone are troubling.
Balmer was arraigned Monday on attempted homicide, aggravated arson, terrorism and other charges.
The 38-year-old man is accused of breaking into the governor's mansion and setting it on fire with Molotov cocktails early Sunday.
As he was being led to a Harrisburg courtroom yesterday, Balmer rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue.
His mother says Cody is mentally ill and off his meds. President Donald Trump commented on that.
“The attacker was not a fan of Trump I understand and just from what I’ve been read and from what I’ve been told,” said Trump. “The attacker, basically, wasn’t a fan of anybody, he’s probably just a whack job and certainly a thing like that can not be allowed to happen.”
Several posts on Balmer’s Facebook page criticized former President Joe Biden.