Embattled Vermont lawmaker quits

Bowing to political pressure, a Vermont state senator has quit in the wake of hate-filled exchanges on social media.

But a statement issued late Oct. 17 by Republican Sam Douglass seems to claim his resignation stems from critics' alleged threats to his relatives.

"In this political climate I must keep my family safe,” Douglass said.

So now it's the political "climate" - not the substance of his racism - on which he blames his ouster.

His statement cites hateful messages he allegedly received from Vermonters since the story about his online "chats" broke.

In one portion of the chat, Douglass refers to an Indian woman as someone who “just didn’t bathe often.”

In another instance, Brianna Douglass, Sam’s wife and the Vermont Young Republican’s national committee member, says her husband may have erred by “expecting the Jew to be honest.”

Douglass, who represented an area near the Canadian border, was chairman of Vermont Young Republicans.

The state lawmaker initially brushed aside calls to resign from top state Republican leaders including Gov. Phil Scott.

He had said he was "weighing all my options."

“if my governor asks me to do something, I will act, because I believe in what he’s trying to do,” Douglass said without clarifying the reference.

He claimed his resignation will be effective Oct. 20, a delay without explanation.

- Staff reports, Politico