Texts exchanged among members of New York’s Young Republicans have revealed offensive messages, including jokes about gas chambers, praise for Hitler and the Nazis, and hundreds of racial and homophobic slurs, according to documents obtained by Politico.
The nearly 3,000 pages of Telegram messages, spanning January through mid-August, show some messages led by Peter Junta, chief of staff for Staten Island Assemblyman Mike Riley and former president of the New York State Young Republicans Club.
In one thread, Junta wrote, “Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.” Joe Maligno, another member with ties to the state Young Republicans, responded, “Gas chambers don’t fit the Hitler aesthetic.” Annie K. Katie, New York’s Young Republican National Committee member, added, “I’m ready to watch people burn now.”
Katie declined to comment to Politico, and Maligno did not respond to requests for comment. Bobby Walker, vice chair of the state Young Republicans at the time and now leader of the group, used the homophobic slur repeatedly in chats. Junta and Walker have since apologized for the remarks.
Both Junta and Walker have ties to North Country Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. Stefanik endorsed Junta for a national leadership position earlier this year and accepted an award from him and Walker in August, calling them “the backbone of our party” at the time.
In a statement to Politico, Stefanik’s senior advisor Alex De Grassa said the congresswoman was “absolutely appalled by the alleged comments,” which he described as “heinous, anti-Semitic, racist, and unacceptable.”
Stefanik and New York State Republican Senator Robert Orr have called for the chat participants to resign.
Story by By Emily Russell/ New York Public News Network
Image: Bobby Walker and other young Republicans who took part in an epithet-filled Telegram chat are out of jobs after Politico began asking questions about their statements. (Credit: NYSYR)