The Democratic Rhode Island senator came under fire for saying his membership at the All-White Beach Club was “traditional.”

A Rhode Island Democratic senator who claims to be a progressive person against systemic racism is in trouble for defending his long-term membership in a private all-white beach club in the state.

According to reports, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and his family have been members of the exclusive Bailey Beach Club in Newport, Rhode Island for at least two decades.

When Whitehouse recently confronted a reporter from GoLocal Providence about his membership and lack of diversity in the club, the scandal was exposed. Whithouse told reporters: “I think the people who run this place are still working hard, and I’m sorry it hasn’t happened yet.”

according to New York PostWhen someone asked Whitehouse whether such clubs should continue to exist during the country’s “race liquidation,” the senator replied: “This is a long tradition in Rhode Island, and there are many.”

“And I think we just need to solve these problems,” Whitehouse added before the interview.

In view of the current state of race relations in the United States, people criticized Whithouse’s response as dismissive.

Although Whitehouse seems to be dismissive of the club’s situation, his wife Sandra Whitehouse happens to be one of the club’s three major shareholders.

When Whitehouse, who was first elected in 2006, initially ran for his office, he disavowed his membership and pledged to quit the club, GoLocal report.

Despite his blatant remarks, the White House office said on Monday that it denied that the club is discriminatory and that it does not have minority members. It is unclear how many minority members (if any) the club currently has.

Wow, Whitehouse had better figure out what he was going to do, because his voters seemed unhappy. We will notify you in time.

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