A swastika was seen on an altered American flag behind a staffer for Rep. Dave Taylor (R-OH), stirring controversy, though the House Republican said it was part of a “ruse” targeting several GOP offices.
The U.S. Capitol Police were called, prompting an investigation. Taylor says new details have emerged from the investigation.
“New details have emerged from a coordinated investigation into the vile symbol that appeared in my office,” he told Fox News.
“Numerous Republican offices have confirmed that they were targeted by an unidentified group or individual who distributed American flags bearing a similar symbol, which were initially indistinguishable from an ordinary American flag to the naked eye,” he added.
“After a full-scale internal investigation,” he continued, “I am confident that no employee of this office would knowingly display such a despicable image, and the flag in question was taken down immediately upon the discovery of the obscured symbol it bore. As I’ve said previously, I unequivocally condemn hate in any form and continue to collaborate with Capitol Police and the Committee on House Administration to uncover additional details in this investigation.”
It’s unclear which other GOP offices have been targeted. Fox News reported that the flags had an “optical illusion” obscuring the swastika visible on them. According to the outlet, the American flag had a swastika embedded into the ink or weaving that made it only visible on camera.
A staffer told the outlet that they received the flag and spotted the symbol, tossing it out.
The flag with the swastika in Taylor’s office came shortly after Politico reported about a Young Republicans group chat that featured inflammatory remarks. At one point in the chat, Peter Giunta, the former chairman of the New York Young Republicans, said, “Everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber” about a vote for him to become the chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.
CAPITOL POLICE INVESTIGATING SWASTIKA FOUND IN HOUSE REPUBLICAN DAVE TAYLOR’S OFFICE
In the same chat, he also said, “Great. I love Hitler,” after someone said Michigan’s Young Republicans would vote for the most right-wing person.
The chats were widely condemned by Democrats and Republicans. As a result of the controversy, the New York State Young Republicans are reportedly set to disband.