GOP congressman says cops investigating swastika in his workplace

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Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) stated he requested that the U.S. Capitol Police examine an American flag with a swastika on it discovered Tuesday in his workplace.

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A screenshot from a digital assembly that included Angelo Elia, who works as a legislative correspondent in Taylor’s workplace, was shared on-line Wednesday. The picture reveals Elia in entrance of what seems to be a cubicle wall bearing a small American flag altered so the stripes type a swastika, hung up alongside a replica of the Constitution and memes about Ohio.

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“I’m conscious of a picture that seems to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate image close to an worker in my workplace,” Taylor stated in a press release. “The content material of that picture doesn’t replicate the values or requirements of this workplace, my workers, or myself, and I condemn it within the strongest phrases.”

Rebecca Thompson, Taylor’s communications director, described the incident as “vile vandalism.” Taylor, who was elected to the House final yr, additionally famous in his assertion that he “directed an intensive investigation alongside Capitol Police, which stays ongoing.”

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The Capitol Police didn’t reply to a request for remark, and automatic messages from its public info workplace stated it’s closed for routine enterprise throughout the federal government shutdown.

Elia additionally didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

In latest days, Republicans struggled to answer an outcry sparked by leaked messages – reported by Politico – between leaders of Young Republican teams throughout the nation that contained racist exchanges and reward for Adolf Hitler. Some Republican elected officers issued statements denouncing the messages, resembling Rep. Michael Lawler (R-New York), who stated on social media that he was “disgusted by the hateful antisemitism and racism revealed in these messages.” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) stated on social media that “elected Republicans rightfully condemned the alleged vile statements and delivered accountability,” but additionally criticized Democrats for “hyperventilating” over a “hit piece.”

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While on “The Charlie Kirk Show” on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance appeared to downplay the incident, describing the messages as “edgy, offensive jokes” informed by “youngsters.”

When reacting to the Young Republicans’ messages, Stefanik and Vance every pointed to the lately unearthed 2022 textual content messages despatched by the Democratic nominee for Virginia legal professional basic during which he described a hypothetical taking pictures of a former state House speaker. Vance stated these texts have been “far worse” than what was within the Young Republicans’ group chat and that he refuses “to affix the pearl clutching when highly effective folks name for political violence.”

The nationwide board of Young Republicans, a political group aimed toward Americans age 18 to 40, stated in a Tuesday social media submit that it was “appalled by the vile and inexcusable language revealed” within the leaked messages. It stated that such behaviour was unbecoming of any Republican and known as for these concerned to resign their positions within the group’s native chapters.

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