Local Pols React To Violence On Capitol Hill

SEAFORD, NY — Local politicians took to social media yesterday reacting to the violence that erupted when an angry mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building as Congress was poised to certify the election of President-elect Joe Biden.

Longtime U.S. Rep. Peter King, a Republican from Seaford who did not seek re-election to his post of 27 years, called the assault on the nation’s Capitol a “despicable, indefensible crime of domestic terrorism” in a Facebook post Thursday morning, adding, “It was mob rule at its worst.”

Freshman U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino, a Republican from Bayport who took over King’s seat, voted to certify the election results and called the violence a “direct threat to our democracy,” in a news release issued by his press office Wednesday night.

“I fully condemn the actions of those who stormed the Capitol – these criminals who put the lives of our brave men and women in law enforcement in danger must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We are a country of law and order and I urge you all to join me in praying for the soul of our nation. I am grateful to the Capitol Police and various law enforcement agencies for working hard to keep us safe in the people’s house,” Garbarino stated.

Democratic Nassau County Executive Laura Curran noted on Facebook that for hundreds of years there has always been a peaceful transition of power.

“It doesn’t matter who you voted for — violence like what we are seeing in Washington today should never be accepted in a free society. This is not about politics, this is about safety, freedom and decency. I am lending my voice in support of law enforcement who are keeping everyone safe,” she wrote on Facebook.

Nassau County Legislature Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, a Democrat from Freeport, described the violence in a news release as “not patriotism or love of country.” “It is madness and an assault on our democracy. I unequivocally condemn the senseless, selfish actions of these lawless insurrectionists. They must immediately stand down, respect those tasked with restoring order, and accept the will of the American voters,” Abrahams stated.

The Nassau County Bar Association opined that the protesters disrupted the democratic process and called their actions criminal conduct in a news release issued Thursday. “This country was founded on the rule of law and such rule of law must be respected and protected. The peaceful transition of power from one elected president to the next is a venerated American tradition going back to George Washington and serves as a model to the rest of the world.”