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FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., unleashed a profanity-laden demand on New York Attorney General Letitia James for what he characterized as a failure to prosecute rising antisemitic hate crimes in the state.
“The Attorney General of the State of New York, Letitia James, needs to actually do her f- – -ing job,” Lawler said in response to the recent attack on a Jewish synagogue. “Which means prosecute antisemitic hate crimes.”
Lawler was questioned on the rise of antisemitism in New York during a campaign endorsement event with local law enforcement leaders.
MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT, HATE CRIMES AFTER ALLEGEDLY DISRUPTING SHABBAT SERVICES AT NYC SYNAGOGUE
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks at a campaign endorsement event with local law enforcement, ripping New York Attorney General Letitia James on her handling of rising antisemitic hate crimes in New York City. (Kyle Mazza/CNP)
“Rather than running around doing whatever the hell she does, where she plays politics every day, maybe she can actually focus on what her job is,” the Republican lawmaker continued. “Which is to ensure the safety and well-being of New Yorkers as the chief law enforcement officer in the state of New York.”
The comments come just days after a Bronx man burst into a Manhattan synagogue last week during Shabbat services, assaulting a congregant and a member of the synagogue’s security team.
In a statement to Fox News Digital on Lawler’s comment, a spokesperson for James’ campaign insisted: “Keeping New York families safe is the Attorney General’s top priority and has been since day one.”
“Since taking office in 2019, New York Attorney General Letitia James has removed nearly 10,000 firearms from New York streets through community gun buyback programs, dismantled dozens of gun and drug trafficking rings, and seized hundreds of kilograms of narcotics before they could flood New York neighborhoods.”
“The congressman should focus on his own campaign instead of political theater,” they added, pushing back on Lawler.
James is Trump’s biggest legal foe, she targeted him in New York during the time between his first and second terms, which the president and his supporters repeatedly denounced as politically motivated prosecutions.
TRUMP BACKS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER TO OUST LETITIA JAMES AMID ONGOING MORTGAGE FRAUD FEUD
State attorneys general joined amicus briefs in gun cases originating in New York, including one naming New York Attorney General Letitia James. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Earlier, James released a statement condemning the assault as “appalling and unacceptable.”
“I saw her statement she put out the other day, decrying what happened. Great,” Lawler brushed-off.
“Prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” Lawler continued. “Stop releasing these people on cashless bail. Start going after criminals who jeopardize the safety and well being of law-abiding New Yorkers. That’s what needs to happen here.”
The suspect Larry Montes, 46, was arraigned Saturday night with his bail set at $10,000 cash and $30,000 in bonds. He was charged with two counts of assault as a hate crime and one count of criminal mischief as a hate crime.
Anti-Jewish attacks made up more than half of all hate crimes committed in New York City, an 8.5% increase on antisemitic hate crimes in the city since last year, according to New York Police Department (NYPD) officials.
“We have seen a rapid rise in attacks on places of worship,” Lawler said. “We have seen a rise in antisemitic hate crimes — people being attacked for practicing their faith.”
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., speaks with local law enforcement about the rise of antisemitism in New York City during a campaign endorsement event at Haverstraw Elks Lodge No. 877 in Haverstraw, New York. (Kyle Mazza/CNP)
Lawler also claimed during the event that over 90% of antisemitic hate crimes are not prosecuted in the state of New York.
Both Lawler and James are up for re-election, seeking another term in their respective roles serving New York.
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The groups endorsing Lawler at the campaign event include the Police Conference of New York, Port Authority PBA, Rockland County PBA, New York State Fraternal Order of Police and other law enforcement groups.