New York City Council members booed New York Attorney General Letitia James last week after the FDNY announced it was “investigating” employees who violated agency regulations, and firefighters cheered on former President Trump. defended them.
“That sounds a little like McCarthyism to me,” City Council member Joanne Arriola told “Fox & Friends First” on Tuesday.
“There should be no retaliation for this. This is not the first time booing has occurred. Mayor de Blasio has been booed by the police department many times, and we all know what happened to the police department during the de Blasio administration.” “We saw what happened and how it turned out. It was destroyed, it was dismantled. And we can’t let the remnants of that administration do the same to our firefighters.”
FDNY tells firefighters to protest ‘on their own time’ after New York’s Letitia James cheers for President Trump booed: Report
Mr. James spoke at the promotion ceremony, where 65 uniformed members of the Fire Department, Emergency Services and Fire Investigation Department were sworn in to their new roles, as well as 29 members of the Fire Department and 34 civilian personnel. (FDNY)
Last Thursday, James was booed when he took to the stage to honor the oath of office of the Rev. Pamela Holmes, the FDNY’s first African-American female chaplain, and other first responders.
“Oh, come on, we are in the house of God. Calm down,” James said to the raucous crowd. “Thank you for getting it out of my system.”
The crowd repeated as James continued speaking. “Trump!” he shouted.
The FDNY admonished firefighters for their violent behavior, but pushed back on reports that it was “hunting down” firefighters and employees who took part in the heckling.
FDNY Spokesman Jim Long told Fox News Digital on Sunday morning: “We are investigating someone who clearly violated department regulations. This has nothing to do with politics. “It’s a matter of professionalism at the event,” he said in an email. .
FDNY Director John Hodges said after the event, “Today’s ceremony was all about the accomplishments of our members who are being promoted.” “The members’ actions in distracting from the celebration were embarrassing and unbecoming of a party convention.” It’s the best fire department in the world. ”
A union leader representing FDNY employees told Fox News on Monday that to his knowledge, no FDNY union members have turned themselves in.
Arriola argued that firefighters should be protected by the Constitution.
“They should never lose their jobs. This was their First Amendment right,” she said.
An FDNY ambulance seen in New York, USA on October 26, 2022. (Beata Saursel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The union president also revealed that no one has yet been charged with any violation. It is unclear what specific violations the firefighters may be charged with or how they will be disciplined. The FDNY has comprehensive “improper conduct” provisions that may be used in this situation.
Mr. James filed a lawsuit last year accusing Mr. Trump of inflating his real estate assets and thereby committing civil fraud. In February, a judge ruled in favor of James and ordered President Trump to: Pay a fine of $350 million.
In an interview after the verdict, Mr. James said he would seek to seize Mr. Trump’s assets, including potentially lucrative New York City buildings and real estate, if he could not pay the large judgment.
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Fox News’ Andrea Vacchiano and Bryan Llenas contributed to this report.
