Southern Young Republican Federations Demand Accountability After Leaked Chat Exposes Hateful Language
Have issued a joint statement condemning “hateful and bigoted remarks” and immediate resignations
In response to a shocking disclosure by Politico on October 14, 2025, several Southern Young Republican Federations issued a joint statement condemning “hateful and bigoted remarks” reported in private messages exchanged among Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) leadership hopefuls. The organizations said the conduct is “antithetical to the values of the Republican Party” and called for immediate resignations.
According to the Politico report, approximately 2,900 pages of Telegram chat logs were leaked that include racist, antisemitic, and homophobic language, praise for Adolf Hitler, and disturbing references to rape and genocide. The messages purportedly span chats among members in New York, Kansas, Vermont, and other States. Among those named is Vermont State Senator Samuel Douglass, who is one of the chat participants cited in Politico’s piece.
The joint statement from Southern Young Republican groups asserts there is “no place for hate, discrimination, or bigotry in YRNF or the conservative movement at large.” They demand the “immediate resignation of any individual who participated in or condoned such conduct from YR, GOP, or elected office,” insisting that leadership reflect “the highest standards of character and accountability.”
The statement also underscores the Young Republicans’ historical mission: “cultivating principled, service-oriented leaders” rooted in civility, integrity, and personal responsibility.
Stephanie Petelos Nabavian, Chair of the YR Federation of Alabama, and one of the signatories, affirmed the joint statement in a post on Facebook, saying, “I was incredibly saddened to read the chats by YR members from around the country published in Politico. The comments of these individuals do not reflect the values of the Young Republican Federation of Alabama and its members. I am proud to stand along side my fellow leaders of the Southern Young Republican Federations in condemning this hate and discrimination, and calling for the immediate resignation of all those involved.“
The origin of the leak remains disputed, with one narrative pointing to internal rivalry and alleged coercion. According to reporting by PrimeTimer, Milo Yiannopoulos claims that Gavin Wax—a former head of the New York City Young Republican Club and current staffer in the Trump administration—extorted Mike Bartels, a peripheral member of the chat, to hand over the private Telegram logs.
In an affidavit obtained by Politico, Bartels says Wax “demanded” a phone call to force him to produce the full logs. When Bartels pushed back, Wax allegedly threatened his professional standing and floated potential legal action tied to a nondisclosure agreement. According to those sources, Bartels now works as a Senior Adviser in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s general counsel office.
Meanwhile, some in the Young Republican movement—including Peter Giunta, named in the chats—have defended themselves by suggesting the leaks were part of a “character assassination.” Giunta has asserted that “these logs were sourced by way of extortion and provided to Politico by the very same people conspiring against me” in a “highly-coordinated year-long” effort.
At present, no independent confirmation exists for several of these claims. Neither Wax nor Bartels responded publicly to requests for comment by Politico in the initial reporting.
The Politico exposé has already triggered fallout. Some individuals named in the chats have lost positions or been asked to step down. Several state GOP organizations, including the Kansas Young Republicans, have deactivated their operations in the wake of the revelations. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach reportedly terminated an employee, William Hendrix, after his involvement in the chat became known.
Many are watching how national and State Republican leaders will respond. The Southern Federations’ public rebuke sends a strong signal that some factions within the YRs intend to draw a firm line against this type of behavior.
The Joint Statement is available HERE or below:
