PA Commissioner Apologizes After Comments
Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia is learning the hard way that actions—and words—have consequences. A video from November 14 thrust her into the spotlight when it showed her openly boasting about breaking election laws during the heated Pennsylvania Senate race. The remarks, cavalier and dripping with arrogance, encapsulated a brazen disregard for the rule of law.
In the clip, Ellis-Marseglia claimed, "We all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country, and people violate laws any time they want. So for me, if I violate this law, it’s because I want a court to pay attention to it. There is nothing more important than counting votes." Her justification? A self-righteous belief that breaking the law was necessary to ensure every vote—valid or not—was counted.
The backlash was swift and fierce. Her comments went viral, fueling accusations that Democrats were deliberately undermining election integrity. Even Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, couldn’t stay silent and begrudgingly acknowledged the need to follow the PA Supreme Court’s ruling to halt the counting of improperly marked ballots. Meanwhile, the court’s intervention served as a stark reminder that the rule of law still stands—even if some officials feel otherwise.
Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Bucks County, PA, who said she will violate the law and count illegal ballots, now, nearly in tears, says she made a mistake.
Sen Steve Daines: "She didn't just make a mistake, she broke the law, they have to go in and arrest her for breaking the law.” pic.twitter.com/NR44h26moG
— Eddie (@Eddies_X) November 20, 2024
Faced with public outrage and a room packed with jeering citizens calling for her resignation, Ellis-Marseglia finally issued an apology during a contentious public meeting. But her mea culpa, which read more like an attempt to save face than genuine remorse, only seemed to dig her hole deeper.
"Last Thursday… the passion in my heart got the best of me, and I apologize again for that," she began. She attempted to reframe her comments, claiming her frustration stemmed from election workers’ mistakes disqualifying some votes. Yet, in almost the same breath, she added, “I would do it all again.” She called her words "not the best," but her defiance undercut any sincerity.
Here’s the problem: Ellis-Marseglia wasn’t unclear. She was perfectly clear. Her remarks reflected a belief that her political agenda justified breaking laws, so long as it served her purpose. The apology didn’t erase that; it simply reinforced the arrogance behind it.
For years, Democrats have cast Republicans as the party that threatens democracy, accusing them of undermining free and fair elections. Yet here, in Bucks County, it’s a Democrat openly advocating for illegal actions under the guise of moral superiority. The irony couldn’t be more glaring.