U.S. Capitol Police have opened a formal investigation after a swastika-like symbol was discovered in the Washington office of freshman GOP Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio).
The controversy erupted after a screenshot from a virtual meeting surfaced, showing a staffer in Taylor’s Cannon Building office with a modified American flag behind him. The flag’s stripes appear rearranged to form a Nazi swastika.
A friend in DC had a Zoom call with Congressman Dave Taylor’s office today…
Taylor’s legislative correspondent, Angelo Elia, had what can only be described as an American swastika flag prominently displayed in his background. pic.twitter.com/zFn3QowS0c
— The Rooster (@rooster_ohio) October 15, 2025
Taylor’s office says the image was first flagged on October 14, and the congressman “immediately directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police.”
In his statement, Rep. Taylor condemned the symbol as “vile and deeply inappropriate,” insisting it had nothing to do with him or his staff.
“I am aware of an image that appears to depict a vile and deeply inappropriate symbol near an employee in my office,” Taylor said in a statement. “The content of that image does not reflect the values or standards of this office, my staff, or myself, and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”
More from the Washington Post:
Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) said he requested that the U.S. Capitol Police investigate an American flag with a swastika on it found Tuesday in his office.
[…]
Rebecca Thompson, Taylor’s communications director, described the incident as “vile vandalism.” Taylor, who was elected to the House last year, also noted in his statement that he “directed a thorough investigation alongside Capitol Police, which remains ongoing.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, when pressed by reporters, offered his understanding of the situation:
“With regard to the swastika thing, this happened last night. A Republican congressman, allegedly, one of his staffers had something in the background or something in a Zoom. That’s what I heard this morning,” the lawmaker said.
“He says that that’s not his, and there’s a proper investigation ongoing, and the congressman did exactly what he should have done, and that is reported. It’s under investigation, and I can’t comment on it any further until that’s done. But I will say, obviously, that is not the principles of the Republican Party.
We stand for the founding principles of America. You want me to articulate them for you right now? Individual freedom, limited government, the rule of law, peace through strength, fiscal responsibility, free markets, human dignity — the things that lead to human flourishing. We have stood against that. We fought the Nazis. We defended that evil ideology. We roundly condemn it. And anybody in any party who espouses it, we’re opposing that.”
WATCH:
Speaker Johnson on the swastika American flag found hanging in GOP Rep. Dave Taylor’s congressional office:
“That is not the principles of the Republican Party. You want me to articulate them? We fought the Nazis, we’ve defended that evil ideology.” pic.twitter.com/qGdhExFVQt
— American Press (@americanspress) October 16, 2025