Vermont GOP senator resigns amid racist group chat scandal
A young Vermont Republican State Senator, Samuel Douglass, resigned after antisemitic and racist messages from a private group chat of young GOP operatives were exposed. The chat contained offensive language including racial slurs, Holocaust references, and other hateful remarks.Douglass, the only elected official among about a dozen participants nationwide, announced his resignation citing concerns for his familyS safety following threats and harassment received after the messages became public. His resignation is effective soon, and Vermont’s governor has called for his departure. Other individuals involved in staff roles for Republican officials have also lost thier jobs.Douglass expressed regret, emphasized outreach to minority communities, and highlighted the personal toll of the scandal, especially as he returned from paternity leave.
Vermont GOP legislator resigns after racist texts exposed in group chat
A Vermont Republican legislator announced his resignation on Friday in the aftermath of his participation in a long-running group chat of young GOP leaders riddled with antisemitic and racist language being exposed.
State Sen. Samuel Douglass, 26, was the only elected official involved in a private group chat of a dozen young Republican Party operatives from around the country who participated in the instant message chain, first reported on Tuesday by Politico.
The text messages included a range of racial epithets disparaging black people, jokes about putting political opponents in gas chambers, support for Adolf Hitler and slavery, and one participant calling rape “epic.”
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Douglass forwarded a lengthy resignation statement to Vermont news media and legislative officials on Friday, noting that his resignation would be effective as of noon on Monday.
“I know that this decision will upset many, and delight others, but in this political climate I must keep my family safe,” Douglass wrote.
Douglass noted in his resignation statement that he and his wife recently had their first child, and he was coming back from paternity leave as the news broke regarding the text message stream.
Since the expose, he said that he has “received some of the most horrific hate one could imagine,” including threats of rape and death to his wife and child.
“Many of these were made by Vermonters. We’ve even heard about an online petition circling to have our baby taken away from us. Just today we were sent nasty items in the mail,” Douglass wrote.
Douglass said that he “never wanted to alienate anyone no matter their party” and that he has reached out to his “Jewish and BIPOC friends and colleagues to ensure that they can be honest and upfront with me.”
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Gov. Phil Scott (R-VT) reportedly called on Douglass to resign following the incident. He is expected to appoint a replacement to serve out the rest of Douglass’s term, through the end of 2026.
Several other members of the group chat serving in staff positions for Republican officials across the country have been fired.
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