Vermont state senator resigns amid Young Republican group chat scandal

Vermont state Sen. Samuel Douglass (R) resigned from his post on Friday after being named as a participant in a Young Republican group chat where racist and antisemitic jokes were made. 

In a Friday statement, Douglass wrote “for all concerned, me, my wife, my family, I must resign (effective Monday at noon).” 

“I know that this decision will upset many, and delight others, but in this political climate I must keep my family safe. And if my Governor asks me to do something, I will act, because I believe in what he’s trying to do for the state of Vermont,” he added. 

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) said the comments made by Douglass and others in the text chain were “deeply disturbing” on Tuesday and urged him to resign as a state senator.

In the explosive Telegram chat, first reported on by Politico, Douglass made a remark about a mutual friend who was dating an Indian woman, alleging that she “didn’t bathe very often.”

His wife, who was also featured in the chat, made antisemitic statements about their Jewish colleague Hayden Padgett, who serves as chair of the Young Republican National Federation.

Since the release of screenshots tied to the message thread, Douglass said he received an onslaught of hate targeting his wife and his first 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 in the Friday statement. 

“Even though I represent a Conservative Republican district, I never wanted to alienate anyone no matter their party, much to the consternation of fellow Republicans,” he added. 

Douglass is not the only member of the group chat to face backlash. 

New York Assemblyman Michael Reilly fired his chief of staff, Peter Giunta, for stating “I love Hitler” and threatening to send people to the “gas chamber” in the chat.  

The New York Republican State Committee’s leaders also unanimously voted to disband the Young Republicans chapter.