Zeldin Continues to Cozy Up with Far Right Groups and Leaders
As House Republicans continue to grapple with disarray following Speaker Boehner’s announced resignation, Congressman Lee Zeldin announced this morning that he would support extremist Congressman Trey Gowdy as Majority Leader.
“You are the company that you keep, and Congressman Zeldin’s endorsement of Tea Party Congressman Trey Gowdy for a leadership position is just the latest on a growing list of Zeldin’s far-right wing associations,” said Meredith Kelly of the DCCC. “As Zeldin continues to cozy up to fringe Republicans – whether Gowdy, the Oath Keepers, or even Donald Trump — he only makes it increasingly clear that he is out of step with Long Islanders.”
Gowdy, a radical far right Congressman, has a long record of espousing extremist views and hateful comments. He supports shutting down the government over funding for Planned Parenthood and, like Zeldin, voted to shut down the Department of Homeland Security earlier this year. Gowdy has also come under fire for disparaging Leader Pelosi and for standing by an accused rapist. Gowdy was even tapped by Donald Trump to be his top choice for Attorney General.
But this isn’t the first time Zeldin has cozied up to extremist groups and leaders since taking office this past January.
Already, Zeldin has met twice with the Long Island Oath Keepers, an extreme right wing militia group notorious for espousing anti-government conspiracy theories involving martial law and anti-American concentration camps. The Southern Poverty Law Center flagged the group as “particularly worrisome.”
Earlier this year, Zeldin rushed to the defense of House Republican Whip Steve Scalise following reports that Scalise spoke at a white supremacist rally organized by former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke.
Background:
June 2015: Lee Zeldin Attended A Meeting Hosted By Right Wing Militia Group. [Oathkeepers.org, 6/19/2015]
Numerous Anti-Hate Groups, Including The Southern Poverty Law Center, Have Stated The Oath Keepers Are On Their Radar. “In a lengthy profile on the group – part of a growing ‘Patriot’ movement across the country that warns against impending takeover by Barack Obama through the suspension of Constitutional rights and martial law – Mother Jones says the group is on the radar of hate watch groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.” [Atlanta Journal Constitution, 8/11/15]
March 2015: Zeldin And His Chosen Candidate For Majority Leader Both Voted To Shut Down The Department Of Homeland Security. On March 3, 2015, Zeldin and Gowdy voted against a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. “The House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday funding the Department of Homeland Security through the end of September, effectively ending a congressional standoff that nearly shut the department down at the end of last week. The bill, identical to a measure that cleared the Senate last Friday, passed by a margin of 257 to 167, with 75 Republicans and 182 Democrats voting in favor.” [HR 240, Vote #109, 3/3/15; CBS, 3/3/15]
January 2015: Zeldin Defended Fellow Republican Over Ties To David Duke, Said He Would Not “Harm” The Party.“The sole Jewish Republican in the incoming Congress said a speech by a party leader to a white supremacist group would not harm the party. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) responded on Dec. 30 to revelations that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the majority whip in the incoming U.S. House of Representatives, spoke in 2002 to a group with ties to white supremacist David Duke.” [Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 1/2/2015]
Rep. Gowdy Has A Track Record Of Extremism And Controversy Out Of Step With Long Island
Donald Trump Said He Would Select Trey Gowdy To Be Attorney General In His Administration. “In a surprise move presidential contender Donald Trump announced his pick for Attorney General naming Congressman Trey Gowdy to replace the lackey Loretta Lynch who replaced Obama lap dog Eric Holder.” [Tea Party Tribune, 7/30/15]
Gowdy Signed Letter Pledging To Oppose Any Spending Bill That Contained Planned Parenthood Funding. “On top of the Freedom Caucus, there are a number of lawmakers who have signed onto a letter circulated before the August recess by Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., pledging to oppose any spending bill that funds Planned Parenthood.” [Roll Call, 9/10/15]
Gowdy Suggested House Minority Leader Pelosi Was Mentally Ill & Called Her “Mind-Numbingly Stupid.” “On FOX News, Gowdy ranted about Pelosi’s suggestion that the witch hunt against Attorney General Eric Holder might have to do with his attempts to get rid of Republican’s voter suppression efforts: ‘But keep in mind, Greta, this is the same woman who said that she would have arrested Karl Rove any day she wanted. So I don’t know what was wrong with her yesterday or today or whenever she said that, but I would schedule an appointment with my doctor if she thinks that we are doing this to suppress votes this fall. That is mind-numbingly stupid.’” [ThinkProgress, 6/22/12]
Gowdy Was Accused Of Failing To Disclose Postage And Cell Phone Expenditures In Order To Raise Money. “Jeff Parker, Inglis campaign treasurer, questions in a complaint to the Federal Election Commission whether Gowdy failed to report expenditures such as postage and cell phone use that he believes the Spartanburg prosecutor had to have made in order to raise more than $87,000 in the second quarter of 2009.” [The Greenville News, 2/12/10]
Gowdy Was Also Accused Of Misrepresenting Website Usage. “Parker also questions whether Gowdy used $6,000 for his congressional campaign Web site instead of for a 7th Circuit solicitor Web site as reported in disclosure filings.” [The Greenville News, 2/12/10]
Gowdy Supported 2002 SC Attorney General Candidate Even When He Was Accused Of Rape. On Friday, with several newspapers and a radio journalist preparing separate stories on the case, Hawkins, 33, held a surprise news conference in Spartanburg. Standing beside Hawkins was a supporter in his attorney general’s race, 7th Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy. They stressed the case was 13 years old and urged people to forget it. ‘I am innocent,’ said Hawkins, who would be the state’s top law enforcement officer if elected.” [The State, 3/2/02]
Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department Official: “One Of The Strongest Rape Cases I’ve Seen.” However, questions linger. ‘It was one of the strongest rape cases I’ve ever seen,’ said Lt. Mark Barry of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, who worked the Hawkins incident and has worked hundreds of rape cases. ‘There was no doubt force was used. This was not a consensual act.’ [The State, 3/2/02]
Gowdy Resigned Steering Committee Because It Was A “Conflict Of Interest.” “In a statement released Monday afternoon, Hawkins said Sheriff Bill Coffey and Solicitor Trey Gowdy’s departure from his campaign steering committee was a mutual decision designed to remove the appearance of a conflict of interest. ‘It has been widely reported that documents purporting to be copies of records the court ordered to be expunged and destroyed 13 years ago have been circulated to the media,” Hawkins said in his statement. ‘An internal investigation on this matter is now being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office. To avoid any hint of a conflict, Sheriff Coffey, Solicitor Gowdy and I agreed it would be inappropriate for them to continue serving on my campaign committee.’” [The State, 3/12/02]