GOP official calls for expulsion of Oakland University student for inciting violence against candidate

A university student is under investigation over calls to violence against a congressional candidate on social media.

Oakland University police are investigating an unnamed freshman honors student, who allegedly posted a picture of Mike Steger, a Republican candidate for the House of Representatives, and another individual in a Trump hat with the caption “can we execute these two things.” 

Steger told Campus Reform that the post was made to an Oakland University public chat board and was discovered by a member of the school’s College Republicans chapter. He said that the student’s parents were contacted by the police, who concluded their investigation on Oct. 11.

The case has since been passed on to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation, but no status updates are available at this time, according to Steger.

[RELATED: STURGE: Higher ed has normalized political violence]

“While the University remains firmly committed to protecting First Amendment rights, the University will not tolerate violence, actual threats or unlawful harassment,” a statement from the school said. “In addition, while hate speech may be protected by the First Amendment, Oakland University condemns such speech as it does not align with the University’s values.”

The school left the student unnamed, saying federal student privacy laws prohibit it from divulging information during the investigation.

Vance Patrick, the Oakland County GOP chair, blasted the student by name in a social media post calling for his expulsion.

[RELATED: Protesters at Oakland University Charlie Kirk vigil overpowered by ‘USA’ chants]

“I am appalled and deeply concerned by the recent social media post from an Oakland University student openly calling for the execution of a Republican congressional candidate,” Vance wrote. “This kind of rhetoric is not just unacceptable: it is dangerous, criminal, and has absolutely no place in our community or on any campus.”

“I am calling for the immediate expulsion of the student who issued this violent threat, and I urge law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation,” he continued.

Steger, who is running for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, also condemned the threat as “shameful” and remarked that “our left-wing dominated culture is shameless” in a statement to Campus Reform.

“She was celebrating Kirk’s assassination, hoping to score social points with the godless left,” he continued. “Maybe one day she’ll see the value of dialogue. I’m open for discussion anytime.”

All relevant parties have been contacted for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.

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This article has been updated to include comments from Mike Steger.