The Democrat politician who filmed himself harassing an elderly woman, a middle-aged woman, and three teenage girls is fundraising off his attacks.
Brian Sims, a Pennsylvania representative, posted videos several weeks ago of himself yelling at females outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Philadelphia. In one video, he harassed an elderly woman; in another, he confronted a mother and three minors and later asked supporters to dox, or reveal private information about, the girls.
The videos prompted calls for Sims to resign.
Sims has not apologized to the women he harassed, instead sending out a fundraising email based on his activities.
Sims said in the email, which was obtained by Washington Examiner reporter Salena Zito, that his behavior “was aggressive” and that he “acted in an inappropriate way.”
.@BrianSimsPA is sorry not sorry. What he really is, is angry. REALLY ANGRY. Check out his fundraising email he sent out. Wonder if @RepTurzai will censure this guy? pic.twitter.com/jMjW68FnVn
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZito) May 18, 2019
“For that, I am truly sorry,” he wrote in the fundraising message. “My emotions took over because I was, and am, angry.”
Among his reasons for being angry, Sims claimed “pro-life protesters use white privilege and racism to attack people of color” and that “there doesn’t seem to be a ‘pro-life’ sentiment for all—for all Americans and for all Philadelphians.”
He also said he was upset about the abortion ban that was recently passed in Alabama and “heartbeat bills” that prohibit aborting an unborn child with a heartbeat, along with a slew of other issues.
While he didn’t mention the women he attacked, he told supporters: “In that moment, in that video, I should not have let my emotions get the best of me. I should not have disrespected Planned Parenthood’s policies of not engaging with protesters. For that, I’m absolutely sorry.”
Zito wrote that Sims “is sorry not sorry.”
“What he really is, is angry. REALLY ANGRY. Check out his fundraising email he sent out. Wonder if [Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives] Mike Turzai will censure this guy?”
Turzai said in a statement that Sims’ actions “reflect the worst in how people should behave and treat one another in a civil society. No one should ever be subjected to any form of harassment or intimidation because they choose to exercise their constitutional rights to pray or peacefully advocate.”
But Joseph Garecht, the father of two of the teen girls that Sims wanted doxxed, responded by saying he was “disappointed that the legislature has not taken action against Mr. Sims. His fundraising email shows he has absolutely no remorse.”
Remember that the eyes of the prolife world are on Pennsylvania right now. Elected officials that want prolife support in future races should keep that in mind as they decide how to handle this unfortunate incident.
— Joe Garecht (@joegarecht) May 19, 2019
“Remember that the eyes of the pro-life world are on Pennsylvania right now. Elected officials that want pro-life support in future races should keep that in mind as they decide how to handle this unfortunate incident,” Garecht added.
Abby Garecht, the adult woman seen with the teenagers and Garecht’s wife, told the right-leaning Fox News that her two daughters are 15 and 13 years old. The third girl was their friend.
“I was surprised that an adult man would approach teenage girls in that way,” Garecht said. “Just the fact that he’s an adult male interacting aggressively with teenage girls, that alone is inappropriate.”
According to CBS Philadelphia, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the Philadelphia Police Department are investigating the videos.
A spokesman for the state House Democrats said in a statement that Sims discussed his actions with House leaders from both parties, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“Democratic leaders addressed the matter with Sims privately and are satisfied it will not be repeated,” Patton said in a statement. “Republican leaders are aware of this.”
