NH state lawmaker faces possible discipline over social media post referencing ‘final solution’
By Adam Sexton
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CONCORD, New Hampshire (WMUR) — A committee at the State House is considering whether to discipline or expel a state representative from Weare over a social media post targeting a fellow lawmaker and invoking a Nazi term for the systemic extermination of Jewish people.
Some who spoke at the hearing Monday said it doesn’t matter if state Rep. Travis Corcoran, R-Weare, was joking. They believe he should face consequences.
“Mr. Corcoran’s words are an affront not only to Jewish people, but to all people who are committed to the free exchange of ideas without threat of violence or murder,” said Rabbi Daniel Aronson, of Keene.
Jewish religious and community leaders went to Concord on Monday to call for Corcoran to face consequences for his recent social media post. Corcoran was responding to an invitation from state Rep. Jessica Grill, D-Manchester, to join the “karaoke caucus” when he posed on X: “We need a final solution for theater kids in politics.”
Grill is Jewish.
“I did not know Representative Grill was Jewish when I made the comment,” Corcoran said. “There are nearly 400 members of this House. I do not keep track of my colleagues’ religious backgrounds. The claim that this targeted her because of her background is false.”
Corcoran blasted the hearing as a “full-blown piece of political theater.”
“A joke is now being treated as though it were an act of malice, and sarcasm is being recast as hate speech,” he said. “This is absurd.”
After speaking, Corcoran stood up, left the hearing room, and did not return.
Grill also testified, calling for the committee to recommend that Corcoran be expelled.
“As a Jewish lawmaker, the use of this phase ‘final solution’ is especially disturbing,” she said. “It is not vague or thoughtless. It is not a poorly worded joke. It is targeted language with a specific historical meaning.”
Corcoran had one fellow lawmaker speak in his defense. Several others asked for accountability within the recommendations available to the committee, saying no matter the intent, the House must stand against such language.
“You have the power to reprimand, censure and expel,” said Mark Murray, of Bedford. “So, I’m going to assume there is behavior that would warrant that happening. If this isn’t it, what is? What’s going to be acceptable next?”
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