A report that an Ohio Republican House nominee dressed in a Nazi uniform during World War II re-enactments drew a sharp reaction Saturday from national Democrats.
Atlantic magazine reported late Friday that businessman Rich Iott, a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” program who is challenging Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District, had dressed in a Waffen SS uniform as a member of a Nazi re-enactment group.
Iott, whose name appeared on the group’s roster dating back to 2003, said he joined with his son as “a father-son bonding thing” but left three years ago after his son lost interest.
Matt Parker, Iott’s spokesman, said Iott is a “military history enthusiast” who had also participated in World War I and U.S. Civil War reenactments.
“Never, in any of my re-enacting of military history, have I meant any disrespect to anyone who served in our military or anyone who has been affected by the tragedy of war,” Iott, 59, said in a statement. “I have immense respect for veterans who served our country valiantly, particularly those who fought to rid the world of tyranny and aggression by relegating Nazism to the trash heap of history.” The Washington Post
