Sam Douglass, a 26-year-old Vermont state senator, has announced his resignation amid growing controversy surrounding racist and antisemitic comments exchanged in a private Telegram chat. His resignation is effective this coming Monday. Most importantly, he made this decision to protect his family from threats that immediately followed those public revelations.
The firestorm started when Politico reported that Vic Douglass and fiancée, Brianna Douglass, participated in a private group chat. During that conversation, they used slurs to describe different marginalized communities. Brianna Douglass reportedly made an antisemitic comment, while Sam Douglass described a Jewish individual making a procedural error in an exchange. The couple hurled anti-LGBTQ+ slurs at those who were celebrating pride. They demeaned Nebraskans saying they are “inbred cow fuckers,” and called Rhode Islanders “traitorous cunts.”
In an especially incendiary post, T4America’s Sam Douglass referred to a “very fat Indian woman.” He told them, ‘She just didn’t bathe regularly. These comments have drawn outrage from far and wide. Now Governor Phil Scott and State Senate Minority Leader Scott Beck of Vermont are joining the chorus expressing their outrage.
Governor Scott characterized the exchanges as “vile, racist, bigoted, and antisemitic dialogue,” calling for immediate resignations from those involved. To his credit, Rothman said that this kind of rhetoric must not be allowed in the Republican Party.
“Those involved should resign from their roles immediately and leave the Republican party – including Vermont state senator Sam Douglass,” – Phil Scott
The impact of this action has proven to be disastrous. In the face of this substantial public outcry, Douglass flip-flopped, calling the comments “edgy” and “offensive jokes,” offered by “kids,” at best. He defended one of his comments, stating it “was an unflattering remark about a specific individual, absolutely not a generalization.”
Even with his worst gaffe dismissed, Douglass could not escape the growing calls for his resignation. Scott Beck, executive director of the Vermont Council on Rural Development, said Douglass’s ouster completed a “hard week” for Vermont.
Amidst the backlash, Douglass mentioned that he and his family had received “some of the most horrific hate one could imagine,” including threats of violence. He and Brianna, who recently welcomed their first child together, said they fear for their safety given the circumstances.
“Will upset many, and delight others, but in this political climate I must keep my family safe,” – Sam Douglass
Douglass’s resignation has recently sparked a spirited discussion on the accountability of public officials. It leads to big questions about the role social media plays in shaping political discourse. Even JD Vance, a fellow GOP senator, noted what it would mean to impose severe penalties for bad jokes.
“I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke – telling a very offensive, stupid joke – is cause to ruin their lives,” – JD Vance
As Vermont grapples with this incident, Scott Beck stated that Senator Douglass’s resignation is a step toward healing for both Vermont and Douglass’s family. Elected leaders and constituents alike are taking a hard look at this national scandal. How they react could change the political landscape of that state and lead to further conversations nationwide about race and discrimination in politics.