A far-right Republican candidate in Pennsylvania is under fire for mocking and threatening reporters after they dug into disturbing allegations from his past.
Teddy Daniels, a fervent supporter of former Republican President Donald Trump and candidate for PA Lieutenant Governor, is facing intense scrutiny over domestic violence allegations and a record of misconduct during his previous career as a police officer, which were recently revealed by Rolling Stone magazine.
During a Facebook Live appearance in January, Daniels referred to writers of the bombshell article as "purple-haired sissies" and invited the journalists to "come get some," a violent tone consistent with the records of Daniels' past.
Exclusive: Teddy Daniels, a pro-Trump Republican candidate in Pennsylvania, was accused of spousal abuse and reported for police misconduct, according to documents obtained by Rolling Stonehttps://trib.al/C43qtwB— Rolling Stone (@Rolling Stone) 1645060513
Daniels declined to cooperate with Rolling Stone for the piece, but the journalists who reported it have repeatedly been the targets of Daniels' Facebook Live appearances, including the one below.
Be warned that this video contains offensive language and rhetoric some may find disturbing.
Railing against the media, Daniels said:
“Every sh*t rag liberal paper in the country has come after me... Nothing that these man bun wearing purple-haired sissies can do to me can hurt me.”
He then challenged Rolling Stone to "come get some" and threatened the magazine's staff.
"I dare you to try that strong-arm shit with me, because we will meet in person, and it won’t be a good meeting. I promise you that.”
Daniels is running as a pro-MAGA "law and order" combat veteran with an award-winning career as a police officer, but his record paints a vastly different picture.
Rolling Stone revealed that as a law enforcement officer, he was the subject of a 1999 internal affairs investigation due to “unbecoming conduct” after he was caught “providing deceptive information to an investigator." In 2010, he was suspended and subsequently agreed to resign from another police force for undisclosed misdeeds.
Daniels' home life is likewise littered with disturbing allegations. Daniels' ex-wife claimed in court documents that he was physically and mentally abusive, "pushed, kicked and hit" her, kicked in a door in their home, and harassed her at her place of work after their separation. Daniels has also been at the center of multiple cases of delinquent child support brought by multiple women with whom he has had children.
By all accounts, Daniels is also a political extremist. He has stated publicly that he attended the January 6 insurrection and posted videos of himself at the event on Twitter.
I am here. God bless our patriots.pic.twitter.com/RBqNoQkyC2— Teddy Daniels PA (@Teddy Daniels PA) 1609966176
Earlier this week, Daniels was subpoenaed by the January 6 Commission for his involvement in plans to install "alternate electors" with the intent of invalidating the 2020 election.
On Twitter, people were appalled by the details of Daniels' past and applauded the "purple haired sissies" for their work.
This guy reeks of abuse.https://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— Tea Pain (@Tea Pain) 1645102212
"man bun wearing purple-haired sissies" \n\nThat pesky Rolling Stone!! Good on your reporting! @hunterwhttps://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— Christine Walker (@Christine Walker) 1645076792
Q-anon and Christian nationalist have total control of the republican party.\n\nMAGA candidate rants about 'purple-haired sissy' reporters after being asked about past abuse allegations - Raw Story - Celebrating 18 Years of Independent Journalism https://www.rawstory.com/amp/teddy-daniels-2656693898\u00a0\u2026 #SmartNews— Chris Pfeifer (@Chris Pfeifer) 1645093507
"Nothing that these man bun wearing purple-haired sissies can do to me can hurt me.\u201d\nLoL. He sounds hurt. It's tough when you get called out for being a woman beating dead beat.https://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— \ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udceb\ud835\udceb\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee \ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcea\ud835\udd02\ud835\udcfc\ud83d\udc69\ud83d\udcad (@\ud835\udcd3\ud835\udcee\ud835\udceb\ud835\udceb\ud835\udcf2\ud835\udcee \ud835\udcfc\ud835\udcea\ud835\udd02\ud835\udcfc\ud83d\udc69\ud83d\udcad) 1645114600
\u201cDecorated\u201d police officer released by his department due to abuse of power charges, accused also of being a domestic abuser and deadbeat dad, attacks press for bringing it up\u2026https://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— TX Girl Ridin a Blue Wave\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\u271d\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f (@TX Girl Ridin a Blue Wave\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a\u271d\ufe0f\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f) 1645106961
Another of the @GOP's very fine people!https://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— Kelly (@Kelly) 1645103236
Who is surprised?— David Spondike (@David Spondike) 1645107953
"Fake news" = Facts that show me in an unfavorable light.https://disq.us/t/4594cfc— 1stRepublic14thStar (@1stRepublic14thStar) 1645067875
Teddy Daniels is a Abuser of 2 women. One his wife and a friend.\nRefused go pay child support. This man is unhinged.\n\nMAGA candidate rants about 'purple-haired sissy' reporters after being asked about past abuse allegationshttps://www.rawstory.com/teddy-daniels/— LoneWolf53 (@LoneWolf53) 1645068323
10/10 this guy was called a purple haired sissy as a kid— ghost of jean baudrillard, the (@ghost of jean baudrillard, the) 1645107665
In his Facebook Live video this week, Daniels accused Rolling Stone of shoddy and agenda-driven journalism and dismissed the allegations against him. We'll see how that sits with voters when the Pennsylvania primary occurs on May 17.
