Freshman GOP senator urged to resign by Scott, Senate/House leaders following published ethnic slur
By Guy Page
Sen. Sam Douglass Wednesday afternoon issued an apology for his statements made on a Young Republicans chat room but did not resign from the Senate as requested by Gov. Phil Scott and House and Senate GOP leaders. The freshman senator from Orleans County promised a further statement by the end of the week.
The account of comments by Douglass and others was published yesterday afternoon in a news article by Politico. Douglass decried the racist and anti-semitic statements made in the chat by others.
“I completely denounce and fully condemn the vile and disgusting comments included in the POLITICO article and I have cut all ties with those involved,” Douglas said. “My role in the group chat in question was a procedural one about bylaws and floor strategy. There were often periods of multiple days when I didn’t check this group chat and I was unfortunately unaware of those comments. I should’ve been more vigilant, more careful, and less naive about who I associate with and my digital environments. I will continue to call out this behavior whenever I see it.”
Douglass then addressed statements about and by him in the Politico article:
In one instance, Walker — who at the time was a staffer for Ortt — talked about how a mutual friend of some in the chat “dated this very obese Indian woman for a period of time.”
“Giunta responded that the woman “was not Indian.”
“She just didn’t bathe often,” Samuel Douglass, a state senator from northern Vermont and the head of the state’s Young Republicans, replied to Giunta.
About this comment, Douglass said: “The comment attributed to me in the article was not a generalization and doesn’t represent my views or character,” Douglass said today. “I apologize so deeply to my constituents and colleagues that our county and state have been dragged into this. I am currently weighing all my options to ensure that the outcome of this is what’s best for the safety and wellbeing of my family and my constituency, and I will make another statement before the end of the week. “
Governor Phil Scott Tuesday issued the following statement in response to the leaked messages from the national Young Republican group chat: “The hateful statements made in this group chat are disgusting and unacceptable. The vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue that has been reported is deeply disturbing. There is simply no excuse for it. Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party – including Vermont State Senator Sam Douglass.”
Ditto, said Sen. Scott Beck (R-Caledonia), Senate Minority Leader, in an email to VDC:
“We are in agreement with Gov. Phil Scott. Sen. Sam Douglass’ statements as reported by Politico are unacceptable and deeply disturbing. They cannot be excused and are inconsistent with Vermont values and what Vermont Republicans stand for. It is time for Sen. Douglass to step away from his position as a Vermont Senator and resign.” The note was signed Sen. Scott Beck Senate Republican Leader, Sen. Brian Collamore Senate Asst. Republican Leader, Rep. Pattie McCoy House Republican Leader, Rep. Casey Toof House Asst. Republican Leader.”
The Politico story also attributed an anti-semitic remark to Douglass’s wife.
The Vermont Young Democrats vilified the comments and echoed the GOP call for Douglass to resign.
“Vermont Young Republicans Chair, State Senator Sam Douglass, in a group chat with his peers, made deeply offensive and prejudiced comments, including derogatory stereotypes about Indigenous women and antisemitic remarks about his Jewish colleagues. These comments are disgraceful, and we call on Senator Douglass to resign and apologize for his actions immediately,” Communications Director Hudson Ranney saud. “Baseless hatred is not a problem for others to deal with. As this incident shows, bigotry is inside our own house. It is a stain that we all must confront. The Vermont Young Democrats firmly believe that every citizen deserves representatives who respect and faithfully represent them, which Douglas has failed to do in this instance.”
If Douglass resigns, Gov. Scott will appoint a replacement, traditionally nominated by the GOP county committee, to complete his term.