Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Vermont State Sen. Sam Douglass Resigns After Leak Exposes Racist Young Republican Chats

The resignation follows Politico’s disclosure of thousands of Young Republican Telegram messages that contained racist and antisemitic comments.

Overview

  • Douglass said he stepped down effective Monday to keep his family safe and apologized for the offense caused by his remarks.
  • He was the only elected official identified in roughly seven months of leaked chats spanning chapters in Vermont, New York, Arizona and Kansas.
  • Messages attributed to Douglass and his wife included a hygiene slur about an Indian woman and an antisemitic remark, and both left their Vermont Young Republican roles.
  • Vermont Republican leaders, including Gov. Phil Scott, called for his resignation as the state party moved from an initial limited defense to supporting his exit.
  • The Young Republican national board condemned the language, New York’s Young Republicans were suspended, and some participants lost jobs as Vice President JD Vance publicly downplayed the episode.