Judge Roy Moore released a scathing statement today regarding South Florida Congressman Brian Mast. Mast has admitted to posting inappropriate comments about rape and underage girls in 2009 and 2011. According to the SunSentinel, one of the comments happened on February 23, 2009. Mast commented on a picture posted by Rocco LeDonni, taken during a vacation in South Africa. Mast commented, “im so proud of you… i hope you hook up with at least fifteen 15 year olds over there…. its legel there right.” Two years later, LeDonni asked in a post, “Anyone have any good pick up lines for this weekend considering according to the crazy christian radio guy the world may end on sunday?” Mast responded, “How about don’t turn this rape into a murder.” LeDonni is now Mast’s campaign manager.
Moore’s comment was posted by his wife, Kayla Moore, on her Facebook page. Roy Moore stated, “When “false and malicious” sexual allegations over 40 years old were made against me in a hotly contested Senate race in Alabama in 2017, Rep Brian Mast called upon me to drop out of the race without ever trying to find out the truth. Now by his own admission, he has joked about inappropriate sexual relationships with “15-year-olds.” Congress does not deserve such hypocrisy! Mast should drop out of the race by his own judgment lest he help elect another Democrat to Congress.”
In a TCPalm story in 2017, Mast didn’t support Moore when he was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior towards five women when they were minors. Mast stated, “Pedophiles should have no place in the United States Congress.” With that statement, many other members of Congress expressed the same sentiment. At the time, Moore was running against Luther Strange.
Others are also calling for Mast’s resignation, including former SEAL Team Six member Craig Sawyer and Roger Stone, a longtime Trump ally. Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay and Senator Lauren Book have also called for Mast to resign. Book remarked that Mast “demonstrated a complete lack of respect for women and questionable moral character unbecoming of a Congressman.”
After the SunSentinel article broke, Mast made a statement. “A decade ago when I was in the Army, and following my injury, I made disgusting and inappropriate jokes that I am embarrassed to have associated with my name today. I am sorry about that part of who I was, and I strive every day to be a better example for my kids.”
On Saturday, protestors gathered outside of his office, demanding his resignation. Some protestors stated they accepted his apology but didn’t believe he should not represent them on Capitol Hill. Lucy Angelo-Walker, a protestor who spoke to WPTV, said, “He has a daughter (who) will be 15 one day, and I would hate to think that there was someone out there (who) was given advice like he gave to a friend who would then be a predator in the situation that his daughter is in.”
Mast currently represents the district that includes northern Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. He has frequently voted in favor of Trump’s agenda in Congress. In 2016 he beat Randy Perkins, and in 2018 he defeated Lauren Baer with 54% of the vote. He is currently in a re-election battle with Democrat Pam Keith.
