Who Is Phil Montag? Democrat Removed From Post After Saying He's 'Glad' Republican Congressman Was Shot

Nebraska Democratic official Phil Montag was fired Thursday after a tape emerged of him celebrating the shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) after the congressman and four others were shot in Alexandria, Virginia during a congressional baseball practice June 14.

"I'm glad he got shot," Montag was heard on a recording that was uploaded to YouTube by Talk Real Solutions Thursday.

READ: Steve Scalise Shooting Prompts Quick Sale Of Tickets At 2017 Congressional Baseball Game

Frustrated about Scalise's role as Majority Whip getting votes for the Republican's health care plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, Montag continued, "I'm not going to f------ say that in public. I wish he was f------ dead."

"This motherf–---, his whole job is to get people, convince Republicans to f------ kick people off f---- health care," Montag said to Nebraska Democratic Party Black Caucus Chair Chelsey Gentry-Tipton and her friend, who made the recording.

Montag was removed from his voluntary position as Co-Chair of the Technology Committee for the Nebraska Democrats by the Nebraska Democratic Chairwoman Jane Kleeb immediately after she was sent the recording by the Omaha World-Herald.

"This is the first I am hearing this," Kleeb said in an email to the World-Herald on Thursday morning. "As soon as I heard it, I sent it to the [party] officers and then sent an email to Phil Montag informing him I am removing him from his appointed position as Co-Chair of the Technology Committee."

She concluded, "Wishing a Member of Congress or any individual dead is disgusting and has no place in our party."

READ: Who's To Blame For Scalise Shooting? Kathy Griffin Is Guilty, Some Twitter Users Say

Montag defended himself saying that his expletive-laden rant was taken out of context, adding that he "did not call for the congressman's death."

"Like every decent American I am saddened and horrified by the shooting of Congressman Scalise," Montag said in an email to the Omaha World-Herald Thursday. “I do not and did not wish for his death. I am hopeful that the entirety of the original, unedited recording will emerge so we can get to the truth of the matter."

On Twitter, the reaction to the statements set off a firestorm, which redoubled the calls by users who said that this was further evidence of the "violence" and "mental illness" within the Democratic party and on the left.

Rep. Steve Scalise has been in recovery following near-fatal injuries after being shot by 66-year-old James D. Hodgkinson, a noted Bernie Sanders supporter. Doctors expect Scalise to make a full recovery.