(DailyVantage.com) – Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia issued a public apology on Wednesday after sparking outrage with her recent remark that “court precedent doesn’t matter anymore in this country.” Her controversial comment came during a meeting last week, where she voted to count provisional ballots missing required voter signatures—a move contrary to a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling.
The statement, captured in a viral video, drew sharp criticism from both sides of the political aisle. Addressing a packed room of angry constituents, Ellis-Marseglia expressed regret for her choice of words but stood by her intentions. “Last Thursday, the passion in my heart got the best of me, and I apologize again for that,” she said. She explained her frustration stemmed from wanting to ensure votes weren’t disqualified due to errors by election workers rather than voters themselves. “It was frustrating and unconscionable to take away someone’s vote because an election judge made a mistake,” she said.
However, Ellis-Marseglia’s attempt to connect her comments about precedent to the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade only fueled more backlash. “When I inartfully spoke about precedent, I was referring to the Supreme Court and the precedent lost on many issues, including Roe v. Wade,” she claimed, prompting boos and groans from the crowd.
The commissioner, visibly flustered, tried to clarify. “I made a mistake, and because I’m an election official, I am held to a higher standard,” she said, pounding her gavel to quiet the room.
Ellis-Marseglia also expressed frustration with the online vitriol she’s received since the clip went viral, including expletive-laden messages and death threats directed at her and her family. “This has been overwhelming,” she said, adding that many critics misunderstood her intent.
Her remarks have reignited partisan tensions during Pennsylvania’s contentious U.S. Senate recount. Republican candidate Dave McCormick currently leads by a razor-thin margin of 0.24%, triggering an automatic recount under state law. The recount, which began Wednesday, must conclude by November 26.
Conservatives, including Lara Trump, have slammed Ellis-Marseglia’s actions. “This is a BLATANT violation of the law, and we intend to fight it every step of the way,” Trump wrote on X, garnering over a million views.
As Pennsylvania’s recount unfolds, Ellis-Marseglia’s comments have become a flashpoint in the broader debate over election integrity and the role of court precedent in safeguarding the democratic process.
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