A Pennsylvania judge displayed what she called “poor judgment” in a Facebook post earlier this week.
Judge Kim Eaton, an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge, said she was celebrating the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris when she posted a photo of herself alongside her husband, who was donning a costume designed to mimic Jacob Anthony Chansley, otherwise known as the “QAnon Shaman,” allegedly one of the insurrectionists who overtook Capitol Hill on Jan. 6.
The judge, who described herself as a “liberal Democrat,” said that the photo was intended to pay homage to the Biden administration.
“My family and I were very excited about the new administration in Washington and were celebrating this historic inauguration today when the photo was taken,” she said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “In our celebration, I exercised poor judgment, and I realize that the photo sends the wrong message given the tragic events of Jan. 6.”
Eaton denied allegations that her post promoted white supremacy.
“People on my page know me, and I stand on my reputation, and people on my page know my husband,” she said. “I’m not a white supremacist, and you can quote me on that. … Actually, [the costume] was making fun of white supremacists.”
Eaton, a family court judge, successfully ran for reelection in 2019. Her term is set to expire in 2030.
Representatives for the 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
