A Utah tech executive acknowledged his email opining about coronavirus vaccines to state lawmakers and business executives “sounds bonkers.” But he sent it anyway.
“I believe there is a sadistic effort underway to euthanize the American people,” Dave Bateman, co-founder of Entrata, a property management software company, wrote Tuesday, KSTU first reported.
“I believe the Jews are behind this,” he added.
The email, littered with baseless claims and antisemitic tropes about the vaccines, led to an immediate backlash from the Utah tech community, religious leaders and politicians. Bateman resigned as chairman on Tuesday.
In a statement, Entrata chief executive Adam Edmunds condemned Bateman’s conspiracy theories, which he said do not reflect the values of the company.
“To be absolutely clear, we at Entrata firmly condemn antisemitism in any and all forms,” the statement said. “For those who have seen and been offended or disturbed by the content of Dave’s email, we understand and share your disappointment.”
Bateman did not immediately respond to The Washington Post’s request for comment late Tuesday. In a text message to a reporter for KSTU, Bateman confirmed he sent the email and said he “had no intention of raising a big stir” and has “nothing but love for the Jewish people.”
“Some of my closest friends are Jews,” he said. Bateman then doubled down on his falsehoods, adding, “I fear billions of people around the globe right now are being exterminated.”
Bateman...
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