Chase Faces Calls to Resign as Facebook Suspends Her Campaign Page

The Virginia state senator faces criticism for her support of domestic terrorists that attacked the US Capitol Wednesday.

RICHMOND-Facebook suspended the campaign page for Amanda Chase on Friday. The platform flagged two of the Virginia state senator’s posts as false information, after she blamed Antifa for Wednesday’s riot at the Capitol. 

“Facebook continues to restrict free speech,” Chase wrote on her personal Facebook page. “Because what I have to say does not fit their narrative, my Senator Amanda Chase page has been silenced for 60 days. We no longer have free speech in America.” 

Chase clarified that in a statement Friday night. She can’t post or comment on the page for 30 days. She also can’t advertise or go live on Facebook for 60 days.

The claims about Antifa that got her flagged were odd for two reasons. First, the same people she called patriots have been unapologetic about claiming responsibility for the attack. They live-streamed the event, took photos and shared pictures on multiple social media platforms.

Second, Chase herself contradicted the Antifa claims. In a video posted to her campaign Facebook page Wednesday night, Chase said the attack was the start of a revolution. 

“I support peaceful protests but I’m telling you when you back people in Virginia and across the United States of America into a corner, you end up with a revolution. And I believe that’s what you’re starting to see,” Chase said in the video. 

She went on in the video to blame Virginia’s new gun laws for the riot. One day later, she followed that up with another post, saying “yesterday was a direct result of so many people feeling their voices were not being heard.” It’s unclear how any of that connects with Antifa. Dogwood also reached out to the Chase campaign for an explanation and had not heard back by presstime.

RELATED: Chase Endorses DC Terrorists, Calls Them Patriots

What Happened Wednesday

Wednesday’s siege came after months of verbal attacks from President Donald Trump, Republican members of the Virginia congressional delegation and others. On Wednesday, speaking at a morning rally in DC, Trump again claimed Joe Biden stole the election. He told his supporters gathered there they should march to the Capitol. They did exactly that.

Chase herself was at Trump’s rally, speaking to a portion of the crowd. However, she left before the riots started. In her second live-stream video Wednesday, Chase told viewers her security detail insisted they leave as the crowd started to march toward the Capitol. 

Officials evacuated both the House and Senate, leaving it open for Trump supporters to walk right in. Streaming video from the chambers showed some looking through papers and sitting at desks. Others yelled “where is Pence?” as they walked around.

Four people were killed and 50 injured, including police, in the attack.

Lawmakers, Residents Call for Chase to Resign

Due to her presence at the Wednesday rally, Virginia lawmakers and residents called for Chase to resign on Friday. One group even set up a MoveOn.org petition, collecting 1,179 signatures as of Friday night.

This isn’t the first time Chase faced calls to resign. It’s not even the only complaint within the last 30 days. On Dec. 15, Chase called for Trump to establish martial law. This was in response to the election results, as she claimed it had been stolen. .

As then, lawmakers on Friday referred to Article IV, Section 7 of the Virginia Constitution. It allows the General Assembly to punish and even expel members. 

The section states the House and Senate can discipline members “for disorderly behavior and, with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected membership, may expel a member.” 

The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus summed up the feelings of many people with a statement.  

“As we all watched in shock and disbelief at the insurrection in Washington DC, Senate and gubernatorial candidate Amanda Chase was horrifyingly empowering a failed coup d’etat,” Caucus members said in a joint statement. “She galvanized domestic terrorists who violated the United States Capitol on Wednesday afternoon through riots, destruction and desecration, joining them on their march to Capitol Hill.” 

For someone who defends herself with the Constitution, the statement said, Chase doesn’t seem to understand what her oath to defend it means.

“She has unequivocally committed insurrection and the Fourteenth Amendment to that same Constitution charges us with the responsibility of holding her accountable,” the group said. “Senator Chase has not demonstrated either good judgement or leadership for Senate District 11 or the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is in the best interest for the Senate of Virginia and her constituents to resign.”

On Friday night, Chase rejected both attempts, claiming she was fighting for the people.

“Despite attempts by Facebook and the Virginia Democratic Party of Virginia to silence me both as a sitting senator and candidate for governor because of my outspoken support for President Donald J Trump, they will not deter my enthusiasm, commitment or passion to ensure the people of Virginia have a committed representative who they can trust and who will fight for them,” Chase said in a statement.

Brian Carlton is Dogwood’s managing editor. You can reach him at [email protected].