Scandal over NY police bigwig linked to sons gang shooting has Dems running for the hills even as White House chimes in
A Westchester County police bigwig’s bust for allegedly driving her son to a botched gang drive by in the Bronx has Democrats running for cover — and Republicans saying I told you so.Ex-Mount Vernon Deputy Police Commissioner Jennifer Lackard is facing attempted murder charges in the shocking June 29 shooting, but prominent Democrats in the region are staying mum and refusing to condemn the disgraced cop because the suburban city is a coveted party stronghold.“Democrats are the first to preach ‘no one is above the law’ until it screws them politically,” Republican National Committee spokeswoman Natalie Baldassarre told The Post.“This thug-hugging mom had no business being a police commissioner and any official who covered for her should be held to account.”Yet, nearly a dozen prominent New York Democrats asked to comment on the scandal declined or ignored inquiries by The Post — while others only addressed it in generic terms.
“Governor [Kathy] Hochul’s top priority is public safety,” said a spokesperson for Gov.Kathy Hochul, one of only two Democrats to address the scandal at all when asked for a comment.
“Those entrusted with keeping New Yorkers safe must be held to the highest ethical and professional standards, and anyone whose actions jeopardize the critical mission of law enforcement must be investigated and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”Others, including pols like state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers), state Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon) and Mount Vernon-born state Sen.George Latimer (D-New Rochelle), did not respond to the inquiries.State Sen.
Jamaal Bailey, whose district includes part of Mount Vernon, addressed the controversy more directly, calling the charges “unacceptable and incredibly serious,” saying the alleged acts have “no place within our communities.”However, even Bailey gave the city an out, adding that “while these allegations are unacceptable a...