Derek Weimer, a history teacher at Fields´ high school, told Cincinnati television station WCPO-TV that he remembered Fields harboring “some very radical views on race” as a student and was “very infatuated with the Nazis, with Adolf Hitler.”
“I developed a good rapport with him and I used that rapport to constantly try to steer him away from those beliefs,” Weimer recounted, adding that he recalled Fields being “gung-ho” about joining the Army when he graduated.
The Army confirmed that Fields reported for basic military training in August 2015 but was “released from active duty due to a failure to meet training standards in December of 2015.”
The Army statement did not explain in what way he failed to measure up.
Fields is being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and a single count of leaving the scene of a fatal accident, authorities said.
Republican Senators Criticize Response
On Sunday before the White House statement, US Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado, who chairs the Republican Party´s Senate election effort, urged the president to condemn “white supremacists” and to use that term.
He was one of several Republican senators who squarely criticized Trump on Twitter on Saturday.
“Calling out people for their acts of evil – let´s do it today – white nationalist, white supremacist,” Gardner said on CNN´s “State of the Union” program on Sunday.
“We will not stand for their hate.”
Sunday´s White House statement elaborating on Trump´s initial comment on the Charlottesville clashes was followed hours later by even tougher rhetoric against white nationalists from Vice President Mike Pence, on a visit to Colombia.
“We have no tolerance for hate and violence from white supremacists, neo Nazis or the KKK,” Pence said.
“These dangerous fringe groups have no place in American public life and in the American debate, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms.”
Mayor Signer, a Democrat, blamed Trump for helping foment an atmosphere conducive to violence, starting with rhetoric as a candidate for president in 2016.
“Look at the campaign he ran, Signer said on CNN´s State of the Nation.”
“There are two words that need to be said over and over again – domestic terrorism and white supremacy. That is exactly what we saw on display this weekend.”
Jason Kessler, an organizer of Saturday´s “Unite the Right” rally, which was staged to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate army commander General Robert E. Lee from a park, said supporters of the event would not back down.
The rally stemmed from a long debate over various public memorials and symbols honoring the pro-slavery Confederacy of the US Civil War, considered an affront by African-Americans.
Kessler attempted to hold a press conference outside city hall in Charlottesville on Sunday but was quickly shouted down by counter-protesters. (Reuters)
