United Airlines reacts to pilot-lawmaker's Twitter remarks
By: John Hollywood
United Airlines suspended one of its pilots for tweeting that Hillary Clinton be “hung on the Mall in Washington, DC”.
The pilot’s name is Michael Folk and he’s also a Republican Lawmaker in the Virginia General Assembly.
Folk told WOWK-TV that his tweet was posted after the FBI concluded its investigation and decided not to not charge Clinton on matters concerning a private email server.
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Public outrage has been swift, with many taking to social media to inform United their feelings on this topic.
United Airlines shared the following on Sunday on Twitter:
“We’re appalled by comments advocating harm to anyone. They do not represent United & we’re looking into the matter.” and “This pilot has been removed from flying pending our investigation. We are appalled by his threatening comments.”
We’re appalled by comments advocating harm to anyone. They do not represent United & we’re looking into the matter. https://t.co/TchV8CC8YK
— United (@united) July 17, 2016
This pilot has been removed from flying pending our investigation. We are appalled by his threatening comments. https://t.co/H1teA2nqsj
— United (@united) July 17, 2016
Folk has shared that he has received death threats over the comments, according to reporting in the Daily Mail.
The pilot has suggested that if a private person had done what Clinton did, they would be put in prison.
The tweet has since been removed from Folk's account.
The following appeared in an AP report:
“It could have been said a little bit better,” Folk said. “I regret the tone, and the second part of that tweet. The biggest misconception is that for some reason, everybody thinks I made a death threat, which I did not. Clearly it was not that.”
In a telephone interview on Sunday, Folk stated that his comments on Twitter calling for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee's public execution were not meant to be taken literally.
He said the tweet was ‘hyperbole' and he does not want her hung.
