Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) Executive Director Milton Champion returned to his job on July 10, following a week-long unpaid suspension for a misogynistic social media post and another defending a violent white supremacist group.
Champion apologized for the posts and said “they were intended to be humorous.” The state also required him to complete training on workplace harassment and the state’s social media policy.
In the first post, Champion used a misogynistic slur against women. In the second post, he characterized the violent actions at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 as being better than “burning down cities and looting stores.”
Champion released a statement afterward noting the posts “were a mistake and an error in judgment, and I apologize for my actions. I thank the employees of the Unit for their hard work and commitment in my absence.”
According to the Bangor Daily News, Champion has since deactivated the Twitter account where he posted the comments.Despite Champion’s apologies, observers said many remain skeptical.
Derek Helling of PlayUSA.com wrote, “The issue moving forward for the gambling industry in Maine is not as much about whether Champion has erred but about how the attitudes he displayed could influence his conduct moving forward. In his statement, Champion apologized for his comments but did not address why he felt using a sexist slur and defending white supremacists made for acceptable comedic fodder.”
Helling continued, “Moving forward, the onus is on Champion to demonstrate that he can fulfill his duties without prejudice. On that subject, all of his decisions moving forward warrant scrutiny.”
