Former New York Police Department Capt. Allison Esposito blasted her congressional opponent at an event for Republican female candidates, arguing that her move from the military to Congress has changed her attitude toward public service.
In response, Rep. Patrick Ryan of New York, an Iraq War veteran, highlighted his recent visit to the southern border and the bipartisan support he has received from law enforcement officials in the Hudson Valley.
Esposito, who was selected for 2024 by Rep. Elise Stefanik’s Republican women candidates group E-PAC, said she is a police officer, not a politician.
“That’s who I am, and that’s who I always will be,” she said, recalling being in the middle of the George Floyd riots and being hit in the head by a cabinet that protesters threw out a window, which she likened to a scene from the movie “Braveheart.”
Rockland County mayor slams NYC mayor over migrant busing deal
She argued that Ryan was pretending to be a moderate on rule of law issues but in fact was not. Ryan later fired back.
“He wants to take a moderate position, but at the same time, it’s important to remember that when he was Ulster County commissioner, he made Ulster a sanctuary county,” Esposito said.
“I now have the utmost gratitude and respect for his service. However, I would argue that the moment he took off his uniform he stopped serving the American people.”
Governor Ryan enacted an order in 2019 adjusting procedures, including cooperation with immigration authorities, and noted Thursday that Ulster strongly steers clear of the term “sanctuary city.”
Ryan, one of 15 Democratic senators who called on President Biden to close the border by executive order, added, “The No. 1 thing I learned as an Army officer is when you take responsibility, take responsibility. We’re in a crisis and the responsibility lies with the president.”
Esposito emphasized that as New York City descended into chaos, migrants in her community were being sent up the river in search of housing.
The migrants are being sent to suburbs such as Orangeburg, Middletown and Newburgh, and Esposito said New York Democrats who supported sanctuary state policies finally realized what they were agreeing to.
“It was only a matter of time. … They were allowing an influx at the southern border. [migrants] stayed in the south. [border-state] “Governors were dealing with thousands of refugees a day, but they were sending out hundreds. And now those same sanctuary politicians are screaming, ‘No, wait, this is unsustainable,'” she said.
Both candidates said the rule of law and border security are key issues in the election, and Esposito recounted his experiences during a recent visit to Orange County, where the rule of law and border security remain top issues.
Rep. Pat Ryan (R-New York) will face off against former NYPD Inspector Allison Esposito in November. (Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
“you Individuals on the deportation list I was waiting for trial [allegedly] “They killed two people,” she said. “You walk out of the ShopRite in Middletown and you see immigrants, illegal immigrants, holding babies, selling water, selling roses,” Esposito said.
Stefanik said Esposito and the five other women she introduced at the E-PAC event could make a difference in the November election.
“With the help of these rising stars, House Republicans will help save our country from the destructive policies of far-left Democrats.”
