Keystone Today

Adjunct faculty member Rick Saccone, 62, has resigned from Saint Vincent College. Saccone’s resignation was triggered by his social media posts on the Jan. 6 riots.

In a social media post that has since been deleted, the lecturer was telling people that they are about to “storm the capitol” and “save the nation.” In an interview with Tribune-Review, Saccone said he had resigned in order to uphold the good name of the school in Latrobe.

“I decided to resign for the betterment of the school,” Saccone told the Tribune-Review. “I’ve been there 21 years. I didn’t want all this terrible media kerfuffle to tarnish the school. I decided it would be better if I just resigned.”

Saccone was a member of the Pa. House of Representatives from 2011 until 2019 for the state's 39th District.

During the event, Saccone said on video that there were hundreds of thousands of people supporting the president at the event. He mentioned that gates were broken down and people were getting maced. He said they would run out “evil people” like RINOs — Republicans in Name Only — whom he claimed betrayed Trump.

Saccone claims the message was only figurative and he was not calling for any protests. He also claims he left with his wife as soon as they got closer and saw tear gas, but the damage had already been done, the video had already been posted.

Saccone and Saint Vincent College severed ties after the incident.

“After reviewing the video posted by Rick Saccone, an adjunct professor, we immediately commenced an investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding it,” a statement from the college said. “As a result of that investigation, Dr. Saccone has submitted and we have accepted his letter of resignation, effective immediately. He will no longer be associated with Saint Vincent College in any capacity.”

Many people have been fired or have been forced to resign over their participation, including a West Virginia state representative, and several teachers.