A WhatsApp group chat allegedly involving young Republicans is stirring emotions at Florida International University — and prompting calls for the resignation of Miami-Dade GOP Secretary Abel Carvajal.
The Floridian, an online publication, was first to report on the chat, posting screenshots that show racist, anti-Semitic, and violent comments. NBC6 has not independently verified the chat.
According to the report, individuals in the group included Carvajal and students with connections to FIU’s College Republicans and the university’s Turning Point USA chapter.
Kevin J. Cooper, the chairman of the Miami-Dade Republican Party, released a statement, condemning Carvajal, writing, “The majority of our Party’s Board voted to request Carvajal’s resignation. We have commenced removal proceedings…”
Carvajal has not responded to calls or text messages from NBC6. But he told the Miami Herald that he started the chat after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was killed, adding, “he had not seen much of the content in the group chat until he was contacted by the Herald…” and was “shocked” by some of the messages. The Herald says it verified the chat with two people in the group.
The controversy has led some Republicans — including State Rep. Juan Porras, R-Miami-Dade — to call for accountability.
“Better education needs to be done for our youth,” Porras said. “I think they are being misled by some very harmful individuals that are being paid to spew this propaganda by outside sources.”
Porras told NBC6 that Republican colleagues in Tallahassee are discussing the matter and want Carvajal to step down. He added that if Carvajal does not resign, other avenues are available.
Democrats are also weighing in.
“This is just another symptom of the same problem we’ve been seeing over and over and over again from the MAGA base,” said Justin Mendoza-Routt, president of the Miami-Dade Young Democrats. “They are not even keeping it quiet anymore. They are explicitly saying the quiet part out loud.”
Meanwhile, FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez, confirmed that a criminal investigation is underway.
“We take these allegations very seriously. The alleged conduct continues to be investigated by FIU Police Department in coordination with local, state, and federal law enforcement.” Nuñez wrote in a statement. “FIU does not and will not tolerate violence, hate, discrimination, harassment, racism or antisemitism. This is not who we are. This is not what FIU stands for.”
NBC6 reached out to Turning Point USA but has not received a response.
In a statement sent Tuesday, the president of FIU College Republicans denounced the chat, writing: “These actions are not representative of our organization and have no place in our community,” adding “This was not a College Republicans chat.”
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