Sasse, Ricketts condemn acts of ‘political vandalism’ after farm equipment burns

"Everybody is looking to lynch somebody on social media. I will not permit my farm to be used for that." 

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Senator Ben Sasse and Governor Pete Ricketts condemned acts of political vandalism, after a Nebraska farm family lost several pieces of farm equipment to a fire.

Jonathan Rempel, who helps run his family’s fourth-generation farm north of Sutton, told Channel 8 Eyewitness News he was devastated to get the call from the fire department last Thursday.

Some of the equipment had Trump flags on it, and many have suggested a politically-motivated arson as the reason for the fire.

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is still investigating the cause.

Rempel says he doesn’t know what caused the fire, and says he wants the investigation to play out before drawing any conclusions. He won’t speculate as to whether the flags or politics were a factor.

“If it winds up being arson we’ll have to find the person and ask them,” he said. “Everybody is looking to lynch somebody on social media. I will not permit my farm to be used for that.”

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse released a statement Tuesday saying in part, “As Americans, we should be able to say this clearly: acts of violence or vandalism towards political opponents are abhorrent.”

Gov. Pete Ricketts, when asked during a press conference Monday about political vandalism, said people who carry out such acts are “anti-American.”

“You cannot do that and think that you’re living up to the ideals that our founders had for what this country was supposed to be about,” he said.

Friends and neighbors of Rempel are planning to gather Friday morning to help the family finish its harvest.