Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democratic congressman from California, has denied allegations of watching explicit content on a tablet during a flight. This denial comes in response to viral photos that sparked a significant reaction online.
Context of the Viral Photos
Images surfaced on X, formerly Twitter, suggesting that Sherman, 71, was engrossed in viewing inappropriate material while aboard an airplane. The post gained considerable attention, amassing over 12.4 million views by Saturday evening.
Sherman’s Response
- Sherman categorized the incident as a misunderstanding, stating it was merely scrolling through Twitter.
- A spokesperson clarified that the images resulted from the algorithm of the platform.
- Sherman suggested that he was looking at diverse content during his cross-country trip.
In communications with Punchbowl News, Sherman remarked, “These pictures came up on ‘For You’,” referring to Twitter’s recommendation feature. He implied that seeing various posts is common during long flights.
Public Reactions and Commentary
Social media reactions to the incident were swift. Donald Trump Jr. expressed his disbelief, commenting, “Yikes!!!!” Meanwhile, Sherman responded to Trump Jr. with a modified image that replaced the tablet screen content with the phrase “Release the Epstein files.”
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace from South Carolina also joined the discussion, criticizing ongoing scrutiny on Congress members regarding personal conduct in public places.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Rep. Brad Sherman illustrates how quickly images and rumors can spread online, especially in today’s digital age. While he defends his actions as innocuous, the situation has provoked mixed responses from both sides of the political spectrum.
