LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — Someone wrote the word "WEIRD" across a Loudoun County political candidate's sign, and he's calling it an attack on free speech.
Mike Clancy is the Republican candidate for Congress in Virginia's 10th District. He told WUSA9 he was out campaigning Saturday when he got a text message from a friend who had seen the sign along Route 28 near the intersection. He believes it was the opposition behind the vandalism.
"I was shocked and also deeply concerned," Clancy said. "This is the second one of our signs that has now been destroyed by my opponents. It's just disappointing that this is what the radical left is resorting to. Our campaign we have tremendous momentum and people are really resonating with the message to restore America. They're tired of the chaos and ready for change."
He says the voters he's spoken to are interested in the issues that affect them, like the economy and the fentanyl crisis.
"They're resorting to name-calling, which I think is not what the people are interested in, and it's demeaning to our voters," said Clancy, adding "our campaign we have tremendous momentum and people are really resonating with the message to restore America. They're tired of the chaos and ready for change."
He described the graffiti as an "attack on free speech."
"Part of the political campaign is promoting your name. So this is all part of the free speech, the Democratic process, the election process," Clancy said, adding "this is undermining that right of free speech."
He told WUSA9 that he wants his opponent, Suhas Subramanyam, to "condemn this heinous attack on our free speech."
"I don't have any specific information that my opponent was directly involved but they're either acting directly or indirectly under his guidance," said Clancy
He says he looks forward to debating his opponent in one of the three upcoming debates to focus on what he calls the real issues.
WUSA9 reached out to Subramanyam, who said, "We don't know who it was, we just know that we don't condone it, and we certainly have a positive message that we're putting forward."
The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office confirmed to WUSA9 Tuesday that they are aware of the sign and are currently investigating whether any cameras could have recorded something, or if there are any witnesses.