AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A Maine branch of the NAACP wants an investigation into whether a state senator violated the Legislature’s code of ethics by sharing offensive Facebook posts, including one that suggested President Barack Obama’s family is part of the Islamic State group.
Rachel Talbot Ross of the Portland NAACP branch joined Senate Democrats at the Statehouse on Friday to condemn Republican Sen. Michael Willette’s posts.
Ross says Willette should be temporarily removed as chairman of the State and Local Government Committee.
She says the Republican Senate president refused to meet with her and Democratic leaders about the issue Friday.
Willette has apologized and says his posts were inappropriate.
A Senate Republican spokeswoman says Democrats are playing politics and the Senate president doesn’t believe a meeting would be productive with them present.
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