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U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) said he urged Capitol Police to investigate an incident in which an American flag with a swastika was pictured inside his office in a statement shared on his website Thursday (October 15).
“I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office," Taylor said. "The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms. Upon learning of this matter, I immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing. No further comment will be provided until it has been completed.”
The image showed Taylor's legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, allegedly participating in a Zoom call at his cubicle with the swastika flag prominently shown in the background.
"A friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylor’s office today… Taylor’s legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background," the @Rooster_Ohio X account posted.
The incident went viral immediately after a Telegram group chat of Young Republican group leaders was leaked and revealed to have included racist and antisemitic remarks, the praising of Adolf Hitler, and jokes about rape and suicide. The leak exposed around 2,900 pages of alleged chats among the group, which included Peter Giunta, who had served as the chair of New York's Young Republicans at the time, allegedly writing, "I love Hitler," in a message to the then-chair of the Kansas Young Republicans.