NY state rep fires chief of staff over leaked group chat

New York state Assemblyman Michael Reilly, R, has fired chief of staff Peter Giunta over his involvement in a group chat that included edgy jokes.

This week, Politico published screenshots of a group of Young Republicans that made racially charged or otherwise insensitive jokes in a private group chat. The group chat included a number of persons in staffing roles for Republican politicians. Giunta was a prominent participant in the group chat.

“The comments shared in the group chat that have been reported are extremely troubling and disappointing. They do not align with my values. As a result, Mr. Giunta’s assignment in my office has ended,” Reilly told The Hill.

While many state chapters of the Young Republicans condemned the messages, the posters received considerable support online from prominent right-wing figures, including Vice President JD Vance.

The vice president highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding Virginia Democratic Attorney General Candidate Jay Jones telling a fellow politician that he allegedly fantasized about the deaths of a political opponent's children.

"This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat, and the guy who said it could become the AG of Virginia. I refuse to join the pearl clutching when powerful people call for political violence," Vance said.

Online Republicans, meanwhile, furiously condemned the Young Republicans chapters for apologizing for the chat, with many official statements being ratio'd as of press time.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.