TPMMuckraker

Sen. Chambliss Investigating Whether ‘Faggot’ Comment Came From Staffer

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)

Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ office is investigating whether one of the Georgia Republican’s staffers left an anti-gay comment on a blog yesterday afternoon.

“We have seen the allegations and are moving quickly to understand the facts. This office has not and will not tolerate any activity of the sort alleged,” a Chambliss spokeswoman said in a statement issued last night. “Once we have ascertained whether these claims are true, we will take the appropriate steps.”

Shortly after a vote to block debate on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, a commenter wrote “All faggots must die” on the blog of gay rights advocate Joe Jervis.

Jervis, who writes about LGBT issues at Joe.My.God, says he checked the IP address of the commenter, “Jimmy,” on a whim. It lead him to a U.S. Senate address in Atlanta, Ga.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Johnny Isakson (R), the other senator from Georgia, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the comment didn’t come from his office.

Chambliss’ office has not responded to questions since issuing last night’s statement.

The Senate sergeant-at-arms, which administers the Senate’s IT systems, did not have a comment as of this morning.

Top Stories From TPM

Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid

Secret Service Looking Into Radio Host’s Graphic Violent Comments About Obama, Hillary Clinton

GOP Nominee In Virginia Praised Three-Fifths Clause As An ‘Anti-Slavery Amendment’

VA GOP's Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

The NRA Thinks These Are The ‘Coolest Gun Movies’ Ever

McCain, Collins Slam Republicans For Budget Hypocrisy

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll