Tech Exec Who Pushed Antisemitic Conspiracy Theory Forced To Resign

A co-founder and chair of a Utah tech company was forced to resign Tuesday after sending an email propagating an antisemitic conspiracy theory, multiple sources reported.

David Bateman stepped down from Entrata after reportedly sending an email to several tech executives, politicians and business leaders in which he claimed the COVID-19 vaccine was part of a Jewish conspiracy to exterminate billions of people, The Wall Street Journal reported. The email reportedly had the subject line “Genocide” and advanced antisemitic theories that Jews were using the vaccines in a plan to achieve world domination.

“I believe the Jews are behind this,” Bateman wrote, according to Fox 13. “For 300 years the Jews have been trying to infiltrate the Catholic Church and place a Jew covertly at the top. It happened in 2013 with Pope Francis.”

Bateman was asked to step down by Entrata’s board of directors just hours after sending the email, the WSJ reported.

“I believe the pandemic and systematic extermination of billions of people will lead to an effort to consolidate all the countries in the world under a single flag with totalitarian rule,” Bateman wrote, Fox 13 reported. “I know, it sounds bonkers. No one is reporting on it, but the Hasidic Jews in the US instituted a law for their people that they are not to be vaccinated for any reason.”

Bateman confirmed he wrote the email in a statement to Fox 13, but he reportedly defended his statements, saying they were not antisemitic.

“I have nothing but love for the Jewish people. Some of my closest friends are Jews. My heart breaks for their 2500 years they’ve been mistreated by nearly every country on earth,” Bateman reportedly wrote. “But I do believe Scottish Rite Freemasons are behind the pandemic (overwhelmingly Jewish). And I fear billions of people around the globe right now are being exterminated.”

Entrata chief executive Adam Edmunds took to Twitter to condemn Bateman’s actions, making clear they were not representative of the company’s views.

“For those who have seen and been offended or disturbed by the content of Dave’s email, we understand and share your disappointment,” Edmunds wrote. “At Entrata, we respect and support all religions, genders, sexual orientations, races, and beliefs.”

Entrata did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.