New York Republican State Committee leaders voted unanimously on Friday to disband the Young Republicans of the Empire State after screenshots of a Telegram chat showed members using anti-Semitic and racist language.
“The Young Republicans were already badly mismanaged, and this kind of vile language used in a group chat has no place in our party or its supporting organizations,” New York GOP Chairman Ed Cox said in a statement Friday.
The explosive chat, first reported by Politico full With young Republican leaders from New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont. Peter Giunta, chief of staff to New York Assemblyman Michael O’Reilly, reportedly created the chat while campaigning to become president of the group.
According to Politico, one of the messages attributed to Giunta read, “I love Hitler.”
Vermont state senator Samuel Douglas (R) was also appeared as a partner In Telegram chat. While Vermont Governor Phil Scott (R) called on Douglas to resign, Vice President Vance said in a message thread that “kids” should not face career-ending punishment.
“We’re not canceling kids because they do something stupid in a group chat,” Vance said.
“The reality is that kids do stupid things. Especially young boys, they tell sarcastic, offensive jokes. Like, kids do that too.” Vance said“And I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid tells a stupid joke — tells a very offensive, stupid joke — that causes their life to be ruined.”
However, other party leaders have strongly condemned the content found in the private online chats.
“Obviously, these are not the principles of the Republican Party. We stand up for the founding principles of America,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said during a Thursday press conference.
“You want me to spell them out for you right now? Individual liberty, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, human dignity, the things that make human beings flourish.”
“She calls on any NY Young Republican responsible for these appalling comments in this chat to step down immediately,” Alex DeGrasse, senior adviser to New York Representative Elise Stefanik (R), said in a statement. ABC News,
While she said none of the members of the chat were employed in her office, Giunta presented Stefanik with the Congresswoman of the Year Award for the New York Young Republican Chapter in August.
At the time, he said Giunta demonstrated “tremendous leadership”.
“We need a new generation of leadership and YRs will be a vital part of our mission to save NY!” he added to Post On X.
