Lead

A Republican state lawmaker in New Hampshire partnered with a prominent Holocaust denier in an effort to influence the state's Holocaust education guidelines, according to reports by the Jerusalem Post. Rep. Matt Sabourin dit Choinière invited Germar Rudolf, a German chemist with a history of Holocaust denial convictions, to testify before a state House committee.

Rudolf, who has been described by historian Deborah Lipstadt as "a hardcore denialist," appeared before the state House's Executive Departments and Administration Committee during a livestreamed meeting in January, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. The lawmaker also allegedly arranged for two other Holocaust deniers to testify, including an individual who has led protests outside a Michigan synagogue for over two decades.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the incident comes primarily from the Jerusalem Post, which covered the story in two separate articles. One piece, an opinion piece by Menachem Z. Rosensaft, expresses personal outrage and emphasizes the dangers of Holocaust denial. The other, a news report by Andrew Lapin, provides a more neutral account of the events and their aftermath.

Both articles agree on the core facts: Sabourin dit Choinière partnered with Rudolf, Rudolf testified before the committee, and an amendment to add a member of Rudolf's group to the state's Holocaust and Genocide Education Commission was introduced and ultimately failed. The news article notes that the state commission on Holocaust education heard testimony from Rudolf and others as a result of the lawmaker's efforts.

The opinion piece did not include some details reported in the news article, such as the failed amendment and the criminal record of Rudolf, which includes a conviction for indecent exposure, a claim carried by a single outlet and not yet independently verified.

Key Claims

  • Sabourin dit Choinière partnered with Germar Rudolf to insert Holocaust denial into New Hampshire's public education guidelines, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • Rudolf testified before the state House's Executive Departments and Administration Committee in January, per the Jerusalem Post.
  • The lawmaker introduced an amendment to add a member of Rudolf's "Committee for Open Debate on the Holocaust" to the state commission, but it failed, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Rudolf has a criminal record, including a conviction for indecent exposure, according to a single source.
  • Tucker Carlson has given Holocaust deniers a platform on his shows, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

The Jerusalem Post's opinion piece frames the incident as a dangerous infiltration of state institutions by Holocaust deniers, urging vigilance against allowing such rhetoric to fester under the guise of free speech. The news article presents the facts with a neutral tone, focusing on the actions of the lawmaker and the reactions of other lawmakers, who described the incident as deeply concerning.

It is worth noting that the opinion piece does not mention the failed amendment, while the news article provides that detail, indicating a potential difference in emphasis between the two pieces from the same outlet. The broader context of Holocaust denial in the United States, including its presence in mainstream media, is touched upon in both articles, though with differing degrees of urgency.

As of now, no additional sources have been reported on this story, and the full extent of the lawmaker's actions and their implications for state Holocaust education remain under discussion.