The New York State Republican Party (NYGOP) headquarters in Albany has been vandalized for the second time in less than two weeks, with the latest incident again featuring Nazi imagery. The repeated attacks have drawn strong condemnation from Republican leaders, who are calling for a swift investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The latest act of vandalism comes after an initial incident involving swastikas less than two weeks prior. NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released a statement expressing his outrage and concern, stating, “Republican Party headquarters has been defaced with Nazi imagery for the second time in two weeks. This hateful vandalism invites political violence and threatens the well-being of our employees and guests.”
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Cox thanked Governor Kathy Hochul for her previous condemnation of the initial vandalism. However, he also pointed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, claiming their rhetoric was “fueling a climate of hostility that emboldens such hateful actors.”
He urged them to call on their supporters to reject political violence and restore civility to political discourse. Cox also expressed gratitude to the Albany Police Department and the Albany County District Attorney’s office for their attention to the matter, stating his hope that the perpetrators would be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
House Republican Leadership Chair Elise Stefanik echoed Cox’s sentiments, calling the act a “disgusting criminal act and a direct threat to the hardworking staff of the New York Republican Party.”
She emphasized that this was not a random act but an “escalation of political hatred deliberately aimed at intimidating Republicans and silencing our voices.” Stefanik pledged her “full solidarity with the NYGOP” and called for the perpetrator to be “swiftly identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” She also thanked local law enforcement for treating the matter with the seriousness it demands and stressed the importance of never tolerating political violence.
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Congressman Mike Lawler also weighed in, asserting that “growing calls for political violence we’re seeing around the country are being fueled by Democrats like Chuck Schumer, JB Pritzker, Federica Wilson, and others, who have used reckless rhetoric and actions…” He argued that this rhetoric creates “a climate of hostility that emboldens and encourages these acts.” Lawler concluded by stating that “any form of political violence or intimidation is unacceptable, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
The Albany Police Department is investigating both incidents. No arrests have been made at this time.
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