[h=1]California professor whose 'Trump must hang' tweet to 28 Twitter followers sparked outrage is put on paid leave[/h]
- Fresno State University says a professor who tweeted that President Donald Trump 'must hang' will be on paid leave the rest of the semester
- The professor, Lars Maischak, apologized again on Thursday for the tweet
- He first apologized on Wednesday, after the February 18 post gained national attention when it was highlighted by websites like Breitbart News
- Maischak had 28 followers on Twitter when he posted the tweet
- He has since deleted his Twitter account and said he fears for his life Shush()*
Fresno State University in California says an American history professor who tweeted that President Donald Trump 'must hang' will be on paid leave for the rest of the semester.
The university says in a statement Tuesday that professor Lars Maischak has taken a voluntary leave of absence for the remainder of the spring semester.
Maischak could not immediately be reached for comment.
Last week, Maischak apologized for tweeting: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better.'
Far-right websites such as Breitbart News highlighted the tweet, sparking angry calls on social media for the professor to be fired.
The university declined to say if Maischak would be back to teach in the fall, saying it was continuing to review the case.
Maischak said last week he has temporarily left Fresno while the university is on spring break, after receiving death threats and hundreds of hate emails.
'I regret making these tweets,' Maischak said. 'I wrote them to an audience of 28 followers on Twitter under the assumption they would be read by people I know.'
The university says in a statement Tuesday that professor Lars Maischak has taken a voluntary leave of absence for the remainder of the spring semester.
Maischak could not immediately be reached for comment.
Last week, Maischak apologized for tweeting: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better.'
Far-right websites such as Breitbart News highlighted the tweet, sparking angry calls on social media for the professor to be fired.
The university declined to say if Maischak would be back to teach in the fall, saying it was continuing to review the case.
Maischak said last week he has temporarily left Fresno while the university is on spring break, after receiving death threats and hundreds of hate emails.
'I regret making these tweets,' Maischak said. 'I wrote them to an audience of 28 followers on Twitter under the assumption they would be read by people I know.'
Maischak said he sent the tweet in February to voice personal despair over comments by Trump and actions by the current US government and was not trying to incite violence.
The tweet said: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better. #TheResistance #DeathToFascism.'
'I regret making these tweets,' Maischak said last week. 'I wrote them to an audience of 28 followers on Twitter under the assumption they would be read by people I know'
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Maischak deleted his Twitter account (above) on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements
Breitbart posted an article Saturday saying the tweet and others on Maischak's account showed opinions that 'explain why universities across the country are now viewed with disdain by the average, salt-of-the-earth Americans.'
Maischak deleted his Twitter account on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements.
Fresno State has distanced itself from the comments, saying they reflect Maischak's personal views and not those of the university.
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Maischak said he sent the tweet in February to voice personal despair over comments by Trump (above) and actions by the current US government and was not trying to incite violence
University President Joseph Castro said he appreciated Maischak's apology, calling it 'a first good step' in calming critics, the Fresno Bee reported.
The university was committed to free speech and was taking the matter seriously, Castro said.
He said officials had contacted federal authorities, adding his main concern is the safety of students and the campus community.
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The tweet said: 'To save American democracy, Trump must hang. The sooner and the higher, the better. #TheResistance #DeathToFascism.'
'I regret making these tweets,' Maischak said last week. 'I wrote them to an audience of 28 followers on Twitter under the assumption they would be read by people I know'
+3
Maischak deleted his Twitter account (above) on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements
Breitbart posted an article Saturday saying the tweet and others on Maischak's account showed opinions that 'explain why universities across the country are now viewed with disdain by the average, salt-of-the-earth Americans.'
Maischak deleted his Twitter account on Wednesday and said he is prepared to take full responsibility for his statements.
Fresno State has distanced itself from the comments, saying they reflect Maischak's personal views and not those of the university.
+3
Maischak said he sent the tweet in February to voice personal despair over comments by Trump (above) and actions by the current US government and was not trying to incite violence
University President Joseph Castro said he appreciated Maischak's apology, calling it 'a first good step' in calming critics, the Fresno Bee reported.
The university was committed to free speech and was taking the matter seriously, Castro said.
He said officials had contacted federal authorities, adding his main concern is the safety of students and the campus community.
Read more:
