Elise Stefanik Scolds Kathy Hochul In Fiery Hearing As Governor Accuses Her of Chasing ‘Viral Moment’: ‘I’m Standing Up for New Yorkers!’
New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) accused Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) of chasing a “viral moment” during a heated exchange on immigration at a Thursday congressional hearing.
Hochul went before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform on Thursday where she and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) were questioned about their states’ immigration policies. Stefanik ran down a number of crimes allegedly committed by illegal migrants in New York as Hochul accused the congresswoman of painting an “absolutely false” reality.
“Do you who Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is?” Stefanik asked.
“I’m sure you’ll tell me there’s many cases,” Hochul responded.
Stefanik called the cases she was referring to “high profile.” Sebastian Zapeta-Calil was charged with first degree murder after allegedly setting a sleeping woman on a train on fire. The governor said she was unaware of the details off the top of her head.
“I bet you’re gonna be familiar when I remind you, he found a sleeping woman on the subway, lit her on fire, and burned her alive. This is in Kathy Hochul’s New York. And as I’m sure you are aware, and I’ll remind you that ICE issued an order to detain this violent criminal, but that was rejected by New York officials due to sanctuary state laws,” Stefanik said on Thursday.
“I just want to say this, these crimes are horrific,” Hochul said as Stefanik tried asking about another case. “I condemn them.”
“Because of your sanctuary state policies,” Stefanik said, accusing Hochul of not cooperating with law enforcement in immigration cases, something Hochul denied, saying her administration works with ICE when it comes to detaining criminal migrants.
“In all of these cases, we would work with ICE to remove them,” the governor said.
Stefanik ran down more crimes allegedly committing by illegal migrants in New York, including child molestation, while Hochul objected. Stefanik accused the governor of her state of “shielding illegals” and prioritizing illegal migrants over New York’s citizens.
“These are horrific crimes and they’re heartbreaking,” Hochul said.
“They’re horrific crimes that are committed on your watch. You signed this executive order on your first day in office. You signed it again and again this January. We deserve a governor who stands up for law-abiding New Yorkers, doesn’t put illegals first, but actually puts New Yorker’s first,” Stefanik said.
“Rather than going after the viral moment, I suggest you look at the facts,” Hochul shot back.
“No, no, no, I’m standing up for New Yorkers. Rather than addressing the illegals in New York, you’re prioritizing your far left sanctuary state policies,” the congresswoman said as she wrapped up her time.
“Your representation of the facts is absolutely false,” Hochul said. “Absolutely false.”
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