Ohio Rep. Dave Taylor says swastika flag was a 'ruse' that targeted Republicans

Rep. Dave Taylor, a Greater Cincinnati Republican, says his office was targeted in a “ruse” after a photo of an American flag with a swastika seen in his office circulated on social media.

In an emailed statement Thursday, Taylor, whose district includes Clermont and other southern Ohio counties, said multiple Republican lawmakers were “targeted” with the flags, altered to include the Nazi symbol.

“New details have emerged from a coordinated investigation into the vile symbol that appeared in my office,” Taylor’s statement read. “Numerous Republican offices have confirmed that they were targeted by an unidentified group or individual who distributed American flags bearing a similar symbol, which were initially indistinguishable from an ordinary American flag to the naked eye. My office was among those that were subjected to this ruse.”

In photos shared on social media by left-leaning Ohio politics blogger D.J. Byrnes and with Politico, the flag was displayed behind the desk of Taylor’s legislative correspondent Angelo Elia. The photo was a screengrab captured during a video call with Elia, according to Byrnes’ social media post.

In his statement, Taylor did not say Elia was still employed in his office.

“After a full-scale internal investigation, I am confident that no employee of this office would knowingly display such a despicable image, and the flag in question was taken down immediately upon the discovery of the obscured symbol it bore,” the statement read. “As I’ve said previously, I unequivocally condemn hate in any form and continue to collaborate with Capitol Police and the Committee on House Administration to uncover additional details in this investigation.”

Taylor’s office initially called the flag ‘vandalism’

Taylor’s office sent an email press statement on Wednesday, Oct. 15, responding to “vandalism” and a “vile and deeply inappropriate symbol” at his office. Around 10 minutes later, the photo of the altered American flag appeared online.

In his Thursday statement, Taylor said the flag was at first “indistinguishable” from any ordinary American flag. The Enquirer asked Taylor’s spokesperson to send a photo or video of the flag that shows how it appeared differently than what was seen in the social media post. The Enquirer also asked what other lawmakers found the flag in their office. Taylor’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to those emails.

Who is Rep. Dave Taylor?

Taylor won a crowded Republican primary last year and went on to succeed former Rep. Brad Wenstrup to represent Ohio’s 2nd Congressional District. He began his first term in January.

Raised in Amelia, Ohio, Taylor also runs his family’s concrete company, Sardinia Ready Mix.