Governor Newsom Calls for Congressional Probe into RNC-Linked Groups Over Antisemitic and Violent Messages

Governor Newsom Initiates Congressional Inquiry

California Governor Gavin Newsom formally requested on October 15, 2025, that the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform launch an investigation into Republican National Committee (RNC)-linked organizations. The request, addressed to Committee Chairman James Comer, stems from a Politico exposé detailing private group chats among Young Republican leaders that contained antisemitic, violent, and racist messages.

Details of Alleged Hate Speech

The Politico report uncovered thousands of messages from a chat titled 'RESTOREYR WAR ROOM,' spanning over 2,900 pages and more than 28,000 messages. These communications, involving state Young Republican leaders from New York, Kansas, Arizona, and Vermont, allegedly included explicit praise for Adolf Hitler, calls to send political opponents 'to the gas chamber,' racist slurs, and endorsements of rape against women. Specific examples cited include a participant writing, 'Everyone who votes no is going to the gas chamber … Great, I love Hitler.'

Newsom's Rationale and Concerns

In his letter, Governor Newsom argued that if Congress is investigating universities like Harvard University for failing to address antisemitism on campuses, it must also investigate political allies who are openly celebrating such ideologies. He highlighted that some individuals involved in these Young Republican chats have been directly engaged in activities on college campuses, making a full investigation even more urgent. Newsom also expressed concerns about the impartiality of federal agencies, stating that the U.S. Department of Justice and the Equal Opportunity Commission 'cannot be trusted to investigate conduct from groups politically aligned with the Vice President.'

Reactions and Consequences

The revelations have prompted various reactions. Governor Newsom specifically criticized JD Vance for his 'refusal to unequivocally condemn the messages,' referencing Vance's comment that 'kids do stupid things, especially young boys' and 'tell edgy, offensive jokes.' Following the Politico report, the National Young Republicans board reportedly insisted that all individuals implicated in the chats 'must immediately resign' from their state groups. Some individuals, including William Hendrix, vice chair of the Kansas YRs, and Bobby Walker, vice chair of the New York State YRs, faced job losses or rescinded job offers. Peter Giunta, then chair of New York's YRs, issued an apology but also suggested the chat logs might have been doctored. Prominent Republicans, such as U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik and New York Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, have condemned the messages and called for resignations.