The attack occurred on the Passover, and Shapiro observed the night before by eating a traditional Cedar diet.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) called on the Department of Justice to investigate an arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
“Given the deeply troubling allegations that the suspect targeted Governor Shapiro in part on his religious identity, the April 13 incident guarantees immediate and serious federal scrutiny,” he wrote.
The attack occurred on the Passover, and Shapiro had observed the night before by eating a traditional Jewish sedar.
“Our federal authorities must endure with the full weight of our civil rights law when examining this issue,” Schumer wrote.
“Because of their faith, people and civil servants should not be targeted, and we should not question whether such an act will meet silence.”
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Suspect Cody Ballmer, 38, has been charged with terrorism, robbery, aggravated arson and attempted murder after surrendering himself to police.
He was denied bail.
“While Shapiro’s family was sleeping inside, the suspects were said to have burned the flames of the house, causing great damage not only to the victims but also to the Americans across the country, causing permanent distress,” Schumer wrote.
The Justice Department confirmed that it had received Schumer’s letter.
According to law enforcement, Balmer was opposed to Shapiro’s pro-Israel stance amid the war between the Jewish state and Hamas.
He said that if he met the governor, he attacked Shapiro with a hammer, according to the search warrant.
“These statements reinforce serious concerns about anti-Semitistic motivations in relation to the timing of the attack between the Passover attack, the visible embrace of Governor Shapiro’s Jewish faith, and the context of rising anti-Semitism nationwide,” writes Schumer.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said Shapiro’s Jewish identity was a factor in the attack.
“What happened to him is absolutely horrifying,” she said on April 16th.
Bondi has not committed to federal investigations into the attack and refuses to call it a domestic terrorist act.
“If this individual was trying to discourage me from doing my job as governor, feel free to find a way to work harder than me,” he said.
“If he was about to terrorize our family, friends and the Jewish community, we joined the Passover Seder in that room last night. Listen to this, and we proudly celebrated our faith last night.
“No one will discourage me, my family, or Pennsylvanians from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”
