New Hampshire Lawmaker Proposes Adding Holocaust Denier to Genocide Education Commission

The amendment, introduced in January 2025, received no support and failed.

In January 2025, New Hampshire state Representative Matt Sabourin dit Choinière proposed an amendment to a bill extending the term of the state's Commission on Holocaust and Genocide Education. The amendment would have added a member from an extremist group led by Germar Rudolf, a known Holocaust denier. The proposal received no support and failed. The incident occurred during a hearing on January 14.

"There is no place for antisemitism in the state of New Hampshire." — Governor Kelly Ayotte

Background

• Rudolf has a criminal record in both Germany and the U.S., including a 2020 conviction for open lewdness and indecent exposure in Pennsylvania.
• Sabourin dit Choinière later stated he stood by his proposal and said his position "is not hatred."
• New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte condemned the proposal, stating there is no place for antisemitism in the state.
• Following inquiries from NPR, Republican congressional candidate Brian Cole rescinded his acceptance of Sabourin dit Choinière's endorsement.

Related Information

• The article notes that incidents of antisemitism have been reported within the conservative movement.
• Senator Ted Cruz and former FBI deputy director Dan Bongino have publicly criticized antisemitism on the political right.