A Capitol Police investigation has been requested following a Politico report that revealed a shocking image allegedly taken inside the office of Ohio Republican Representative Dave Taylor, showing an American flag altered to include a swastika.
According to The New York Times, the Republican congressman said on Wednesday that both his office and the U.S. Capitol Police were investigating the «inappropriate symbol» after an image, reported by Politico to have been taken during a virtual meeting that included one of the congressman’s staff members, circulated publicly.
«I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office.»
The result of «foul play or vandalism»?
The incident originated from an online image showing Angelo Elia, an aide to Representative Dave Taylor, during a virtual meeting held from Taylor’s office in the Cannon House Office Building, where an American flag modified to include a swastika could be seen in the background.
«I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,» said the congressman in a statement, noting that the image had drawn significant attention on social media.
«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,» the Republican representative continued in his statement.
According to The New York Times and Politico, however, the congressman and his office appeared to suggest early on that the flag’s presence might be the result of «foul play or vandalism,» even though the investigation had only just begun.
Republican Congressman Dave Taylor, who has represented Ohio’s 2nd District since January 2025, is a vocal ally of President Donald Trump and a staunch advocate of his «America First» agenda, often echoing the president’s positions on immigration, national security, and what he describes as federal government overreach.
A bombshell investigation into a Telegram group chat
The flag found in the congressman’s office marks the second Politico report within days alleging the presence of Nazi-related symbols or rhetoric within the Republican Party.
Earlier, Politico published a bombshell investigation into a Telegram group chat involving several leaders of the Young Republicans, where participants exchanged messages that included disturbing jokes about gas chambers and expressions of admiration for former Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Among the most disturbing material in the Telegram group, a cache of 2,900 pages leaked and reviewed by Politico, were repeated racial slurs aimed at Black, Jewish, Latino, and Asian individuals, as well as messages praising rape, slavery, and psychological torture, and encouraging the harassment of political opponents to the point of suicide.
A «character assassination» effort
According to Politico, the fallout from the leaked Telegram group chat has already led to repercussions for several participants. William Hendrix, former vice chair of the Kansas Young Republicans, who repeatedly used racial slurs, is no longer employed at the Kansas Attorney General’s office. Bobby Walker, then head of the New York State Young Republicans, who referred to rape as «epic» in the leaked messages, was dropped from a congressional campaign. Peter Giunta, chair of the same organization, wrote that «everyone that votes no is going to the gas chamber.»
Both Walker and Michael Giunta apologized for their offensive messages but suggested the leaks were politically motivated, calling them part of a «character assassination» effort by members of the New York Young Republican Club.
Vice President JD Vance repeatedly defended the comments, minimizing the seriousness of the group chat’s content. Speaking on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast, he described the participants as «young boys,» saying that «kids do stupid things» and dismissing the messages as merely «edgy» and «offensive jokes.»
However, several of the group’s participants were far from «kids»: members of the Young Republican National Federation involved in the scandal ranged from 22 to 36 years old, including Peter Giunta, who is 31.
