SUNBURY - Northumberland County Commissioner Stephen Bridy has denied sending an e-mail received by fellow Commissioner Rick Shoch on New Year's Eve involving a joke that can be construed as offensive to people of the Jewish faith.
Shoch said he received an e-mail forwarded to him by Bridy. The e-mail contains an underlying message about Chinese people purchasing things in different ways. It talks about Chinese people purchasing 18 black bras from Jewish people, cutting them in half and then re-selling them to Jewish people to use as yamakas.
Shoch said, "The e-mail was unsolicited. It's not something I would send out."
When asked if the e-mail could be considered anti-Semitic, Shoch said, "It depends on the eyes of the beholder. It did contain elements that play to certain stereotypes."
When asked if he sent the e-mail, Bridy replied, "To the best of my knowledge, no. I don't recall sending the e-mail, but my children or wife may have sent it. I'm certainly not a racist or have anything against the Chinese or Jewish people. I am a Christian who believes we should defend Israel."
Bridy added, "I've seen it, but I don't send those types of e-mail. This is a non-issue and non-story. It's crazy."
Commissioner Vinny Clausi said he did not receive the e-mail.