by Daily Mail Staff
Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse defended membership in second club that ‘lacks diversity’ and says he won’t resign – but vows to ‘build a more inclusive membership’ on Wednesday.
Whitehouse, 65, belongs to the Ida Lewis Yacht Club of Newport – which he did not identify but was confirmed by the club to Fox News.
The news comes after he had been linked to the Bailey’s Beach Club, another entity that has faced criticism for seemingly having no black members, sparking criticism of the progressive politician from constituents in Rhode Island.
He told the outlet that he is not a member of the beach club but his family is and will remain members despite calls for him to resign.
‘While I am not a member of the beach club, I do own a boat and belong to a sailing club in Newport. While this club does not have exclusionary rules for membership, it does lack diversity,’ Whitehouse said in a statement to Fox News.
‘Failing to address the sailing club’s lack of diversity is squarely on me, and something for which I am sorry. I commit to working with the club and the community to build a more inclusive membership and to better connect with the local community.’
He added: ‘There have been calls for me to resign from the club, which I understand. However, I have no membership to resign, nor will I ask my wife or any other family members to do so.’
Fox News noted that his family appears to have been invested in the yacht club for decades. A ‘Sheldon Whitehouse’ who is presumably his grandfather Edwin Sheldon Whitehouse is listed as ‘commodore’ of the club from 1937 to 1940.
The Bailey’s Beach Club, officially known as Spouting Rock Beach Association, is located on Ocean Avenue in Newport…
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