Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock’s senior media advisor has stepped down in disgrace hours over his racially insensitive posts on social networking site Facebook.
Benjamin Cole, who took over as senior advisor for policy and communications to Schock in March 2014, resigned from his roughly a year service after his racial posts on Facebook came into light, triggering outrage among the minorities.
The office of Schock issued a statement confirming the reports of Cole’s departure.
“I am extremely disappointed by the inexcusable and offensive online comments made by a member of my staff. I would expect better from any member of my team. Upon learning about them I met with Mr. Cole and he offered his resignation which I have accepted,” Schock wrote in a statement which was released by his office.
The racist Facebook posts by Cole were first reported by Buzzfeed and ThinkProgress.
These controversial posts were made by Cole before joining Schock’s office.
Cole had posted a series of comments and videos, dated October 13, 2013, on Facebook. In the posts, Cole mocked at two African-Americans who were standing outside his apartment in Washington, DC, by comparing them to zoo animals.
An August 16, 2010 post showed Cole making mockery of President Barack Obama.
“I just think it would be nice for the President to have his own house of worship, since he’s not been able to find one suitable in DC since 2004 when he moved here,” Cole wrote in the Facebook post.
The posts have since been omitted.
Cole had earlier held the positions in the House of Representatives between 2009 and 2011.
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