Young Republicans in Hateful Chat Were at Oberacker Launch

By ERIC SANTOMAURO-STENZELSCHENEVUS

Two Young Republican leaders involved in a hate-filled online group chat were at State Senator Peter Oberacker’s congressional campaign launch on October 6 at the Schenevus fire station, eight days before Politico reported the messages last Tuesday. Bobby Walker, raised in Cooperstown, managed the small crowd and huddled with Oberacker and campaign consultants before and after the event. Another Republican operative in the group chat, Peter Giunta, was present and spoke with at least one Oberacker campaign consultant.

Politico’s investigation spanned thousands of private Telegram messages sent over more than seven months between leading Young Republicans across the country, prominently featuring New Yorkers including Walker and Giunta. The group chat reportedly had at least 251 appearances of epithets including “f----t,” “retarded” and “n--ga,” with multiple members making statements about violence toward their perceived political opponents.

Politico reported that Walker had been in line to become Oberacker’s campaign manager, but would not be brought on in light of the messages. Reached by e-mail last Thursday night for comment about Walker and Giunta’s attendance and involvement, an Oberacker campaign spokesperson told AllOtsego, without sharing their name, that the campaign “cut ties with Mr. Walker once the horrific and disgusting text messages came to our attention.”