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By: Serach Nissim
A top New York Republican is accusing New York Attorney GeneralLetitia James of racism toward white people.
As reported by the NY Post, Steven McLaughlin, the County Executive of Rensselaer County since 2018, accused the NY AG of targeting Whites and Republican in her investigations. “It seems to me she targets white guys quite bit and white Republicans especially,” McLaughlin told The Post in a victory interview after being acquitted. “Just because you’re black doesn’t mean you’re not racist. You can be black and be racist, just like you can be white and be racist.”
McLaughlin, 59, who is White, formerly served in the NYS Assembly, from 2011 till 2017, representing the 107th District which included parts of Albany, Columbia, Greene and Rensselaer Counties inUpstate NY. He was recently found not guilty and acquitted of charges brought against him by AG James. In a years-long probe, James had accused him of improperly withdrawing $5,000 from a 2017 campaign fund to settle a personal debt. He was charged in December 2021 with grand larceny, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison. McLaughlin fought the charges saying the payments were perfectly legal. On Jan. 25, after just an hour of deliberation, the jury in the case acquitted McLaughlin. “It was really a shameful chapter in Tish James’ history,” McLaughlin said, adding that he is considering taking legal action against her for violating “my civil rights.”
Former President Donald Trump, who was also investigated by James, has also called her “racist”. In September, after the AG had announced a civil lawsuit against him, Trump had taken to social media saying the development was part of a “witch hunt” against him. He had called James “racist” and a “fraud” and referred to her as “a total crime fighting disaster.”
McLaughlin, a former airline pilot and banker, said he thinks James targeted him for being an outspoken Republican voice with a history of confronting top Democrats in the state. As per the Post, over the course of his lengthy political career, McLaughlin has famously taken on even former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, even being nicknamed “Cuomo’s Nemesis” by an article in the NY Times in 2021. McLaughlin boasts about his early decision to defy Cuomo’s infamous order forcing nursing homes to accept Covid-19 patients. “Did we save lives? I have no doubt that we saved lives by doing that,” he had commented regarding his defiant stance. “It was so obviously evil what was happening there,” McLaughlin commented. “I have been proven right over and over. You have at least 10,000 dead seniors because of his actions.”
McLaughlin has also been in the news in recent months to announce his personal battle with cancer. “In recent weeks, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. My doctors are mapping out a course for treatment and recovery which we will be pursuing,” said McLaughlin in mid December. “Fortunately, my doctors believe they detected the prostate cancer early and believe there is a very good chance of beating back the cancer. My plan is stay on the job as County Executive and continue to do the work the people elected me to do.” McLaughlin had added: “My diagnosis is a reminder of how prevalent prostate cancer is, and that so many are at risk for diseases of this type. Early detection can save lives and beat cancer. I urge everyone to get a preventative check-up with their doctor to stay healthy and detect early.”
