Overview

• Politico reported roughly 2,900 pages of Telegram messages over seven months in which Young Republican leaders used racial and antisemitic slurs, praised Hitler, joked about gas chambers, and discussed rape and driving opponents to suicide.
• Within hours of publication, the Young Republican National Federation’s board called the language “vile and inexcusable” and said those involved must immediately resign from all posts in state and local Young Republican organizations.
• At least one chat participant lost a job and another had an offer rescinded after Politico’s inquiries, as scrutiny intensified on state chapters in New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont.
• Named figures include Peter Giunta, Bobby Walker, William Hendrix, Annie Kaykaty, Joe Maligno, Luke Mosiman, Alex Dwyer, and Vermont’s Samuel Douglass, while SBA legal office adviser Michael Bartels was identified as a chat member who did not push back on the rhetoric.
• Several implicated members issued apologies paired with claims that logs were doctored or obtained through extortion, as the White House denied affiliation with the group and officials such as Rep. Elise Stefanik, New York Senate GOP Leader Rob Ortt, and Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned the messages.