Stefanik Staffer Caught Boosting Pro-Trump Group With Documented Threats Toward Local Press
Here we go again… After having a rough summer, North Country constituents and local papers continue to express serious concerns with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
In August, the Glen Falls Post-Star called Stefanik out for having the worst town hall record of all her New York congressional Republican colleagues this year and for focusing primarily on national political issues. That’s a fair criticism when Congressman Delgado has already held 26 town halls in the time period it took Congresswoman Stefanik to hold only four.
But instead of taking the Post-Star’s criticism in stride, Stefanik associates are now fighting back by coordinating with a group that has threatened local reporters.
Those threats came in the form of a recent rally held by the North Country Deplorables where the Post-Star documented that the group pointed a plastic gun and threatened a reporter.
But instead of working to tamp down potential violence, Stefanik’s staff has been caught communicating with that group’s leader and pumping up town halls with the same groups.
No matter how bad Congresswoman Stefanik’s district work period was, this is bringing the worst of Washington home to the North Country.
THREATS AGAINST A LOCAL NEWSPAPER BY PRO-TRUMP GROUP:
BLOG: Threats with toy guns feel real
Kathleen Phalen-Tomaselli | October 5, 2019
GLENS FALLS — So, today I was at Centennial Circle for another pro-Trump rally that police had warned ahead of time, might have unloaded weapons present as a show of support for the Second Amendment.
In reality, there were only a handful of supporters at the rally and there were no visible weapons.
Still, when a member of the North Country Deplorables noticed me at the rally, he raised an orange plastic-looking gun that was more than likely a toy of some sort, maybe a Nerf Blaster that looks like a brightly colored machine gun.
He cocked the gun twice, held it up in the air and shouted through a megaphone, “Here Post-Star is my unloaded rifle. Here’s my 10-round clip.”
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“Here, Tomaselli, you are a fake reporter.”
“Tomaselli is a liberal fake reporter,” he shouted through the megaphone.
All the while, the gun is still pointed at my face.
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The man then threatened the newspaper.
“We’ve got one coming for you, Post-Star,” he shouted through the megaphone.
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TOP STEFANIK STAFFER COORDINATES WITH SAME PRO-TRUMP GROUP:
Exclusive: Pro-Trump activist claims top Stefanik adviser worked to pack town hall meeting
Brian Mann | October 10, 2019
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In a post shared on social media, Mike Kibling – head of a pro-Trump group called North Country Deplorables – wrote that senior Stefanik adviser Alex deGrasse urged him to rally members to “show up early and secure all the seating inside the fire station.”
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According to Kibling’s post, the goal of deGrasse’s effort was to ensure journalists covering the meeting will “only capture supporters clapping and cheering” for Stefanik and President Trump.
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Kibling, who was photographed last Saturday pointing a toy gun at a journalist, has been disavowed by some other conservative activists for his often profane rhetoric and confrontational style.
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Stefanik spokeswoman Maddie Anderson declined repeatedly to answer questions about deGrasse’s outreach. She wrote in an email that “our office is not affiliated in any way with this organic grassroots organization.”
NCPR asked Anderson for more clarity about deGrasse’s interactions with Kibling and other conservative groups ahead of this week’s meetings. She didn’t respond. DeGrasse also didn’t reply to a message sent via Twitter.
In a lengthy phone interview with NCPR, Kibling confirmed speaking with deGrasse before sending out his post. “He called me very early this [Wednesday] morning,” Kibling said, adding that it was the first time the two had communicated.
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According to Kibling’s account, the call from Stefanik’s office came four days after Kibling was photographed at a rally aiming a toy gun at a local journalist.
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Her article about the incident quoted Kibling saying, “Hang on, Post-Star, we’ve got one coming for you over there too,” a statement the newspaper interpreted as a threat.
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The North Country Deplorables have staged a number of raucous street rallies in Glens Falls in recent months. The demonstrations have grown so volatile, the city’s common council is considering new regulations designed to reduce the risk of confrontation.
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Commentary: Rep. Stefanik is now responsible for any violence
Ken Tingley | October 11, 2019
This is not in dispute.
A senior official from Rep. Elise Stefanik’s campaign reached out to the man who threatened this newspaper and thanked him.
They thanked him “for holding down her Glens Falls office from the invasion of socialists and commies,” it said on Facebook.
What is worse is that a member of Congress has given legitimacy to a bully.
Rep. Stefanik has given him the green light to shout more profanities and take his actions to the next level in the name of a government representative.
This is now Rep. Stefanik’s responsibility.
This is on her.
This is not about politics, this is about supporting violence and dividing Hometown USA further.
BLOG: Still no word from Rep. Stefanik
Ken Tingley | October 11, 2019
It has been 24 hours since I emailed Rep. Elise Stefanik and asked her about her campaigns support of a man who has threatened The Post-Star.
I have heard nothing from her or anyone on her staff.
I suspect that confirms her support for this type of behavior in Glens Falls.
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STEFANIK FACES BLOWBACK IN TOWN HALL IN JOHNSTOWN:
Residents question Rep. Elise Stefanik on a number of controversial topics
Briana O’Hara | October 12, 2019
JOHNSTOWN — Community members sought answers to their questions on a series of controversial topics from U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik during an event Thursday.
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A resident asked Stefanik why she voted against funds for treating opioid addiction, when there is currently an ongoing opioid epidemic in America.
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In response to a question about Stefanik’s stance against President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. troops from Syria, Stefanik said she disagrees with the president. She said the withdrawal of troops diminishes trust between partners and allies.
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Several residents questioned why Stefanik continues to support President Trump after his “continuous, reckless behavior,” specifically allegations made that the president asked the Ukraine president to investigate 2020 Democratic contender Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, along with her decision to ask Rep. Adam Schiff to step down as House Intelligence Committee chairman.
A few questions asked about the matter were: “When will you sign into resolution condemning and censoring Trump for the over 12,000 lies, falsehoods, misleading claims that he has made?” “When will you be extremely concerned with our presidents continuous, reckless behavior?” “When will you hold Mr. Trump accountable?”
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“I just think this is a guy who from day one mocks people with disabilities, made fun of Gold Star Families, talked about grabbing women in inappropriate places, took children away,” Kitchen said. “Someone like yourself is basically silent. You could say more if you wanted to. A little press release just doesn’t cut it. We need to have a change. I think we need a civil president and a civil republican party.”
Stefanik thanked him for his feedback.
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Congresswoman Elise Stefanik Faces Tough Audience In Johnstown
Dusten Rader | October 10, 2019
Constituents came seeking answers from their House representative on a variety of controversial issues during a public forum, but some left with more questions.
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, hosted a town hall event on Oct. 10 in Johnstown. She faced tough questions and harsh criticisms from a small portion of her constituents.
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Despite covering such major issues, the conversation took a dark turn when Stefanik addressed reports by several media organizations including The Post-Star of Glens Falls and North Country Public Radio that groups such as the North Country Deplorables claim they were contacted by her director of strategic planning Alex DeGrasse to ask for their presence at an upcoming town hall meeting to “pack the house.”
Stefanik discussed the issue after an attendee named Rich from Washington County questioned her about a member of the group who made threats of physical violence against him and other counter protesters as well as a reporter of The Post-Star.
“There has been a group in the Glens Falls area that have been extremely vocal, extremely physical, and extremely intimidating in their actions to prevent people from having a peaceful protest,” Rich said. “They have prevented me from addressing you, my representative, physically, by barricading myself from your office. They have had megaphones, screaming obscenities, insulting children, insulting parents who are trying to raise their children the right way, and who intend to come up to your meeting in Hudson Falls and pack the house so that people don’t have the opportunity to speak to you. … This group has been threatening The Post-Star with physical violence and given the shooting that happened approximately a year ago, this is a very valid concern. My question is are you ever going to sit down and write, or have one of your assistants write in public media that you decry and do not support the actions of these groups?”
Stefanik dismissed the allegations as “not the first time we’ve had high-profile, high-energy protests.” She acknowledged notifying the group about the public event. She also welcomed Rich to her office.
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OPINION PIECES FROM NY-21 CONTINUE TO PILE UP:
Jerry Moore: Stefanik dodges accountability
By Jerry Moore | October 14, 2019
What would happen if a federal lawmaker walked by a group of protesters and one of them displayed a toy gun?
Or how about the president? Where would a critic wind up after pulling out something that even vaguely resembled a weapon?
This person would be on the ground in custody with at least several law enforcement agents brandishing real firearms — that’s where. Doing anything that suggests a threat to a government authority is taken very seriously, as it should be.
And it’s likely that the suspect would face criminal charges even if the object wouldn’t cause injury. Any implied threat would be enough to warrant an arrest.
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Most people I know have the good sense to condemn such actions. Trying to influence public policy decisions through scare tactics is wrong, plain and simple.
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U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has not been forthcoming about her reported association with a political activist who’s made disturbing comments. Mike Kibling, who leads a group called North Country Deplorables, said he was asked by one of Stefanik’s staff members to pack a Coffee with a Congresswoman meeting in Kingsbury on Friday with her supporters. This was one of several town hall events that she’s held in the region this past week.
“I was contacted by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s campaign manager, Alex [deGrasse] to send his appreciation on behalf of Elise for holding down her Glens Falls office from the invasion of socialists and commies,” Kibling wrote on social media. “She is asking us to show up early to secure all the seating inside the fire station so that the fake news reporters will only capture supporters clapping and cheering as she announces her accomplishments, ideas and future plans.”
COMMENTARY: Winning is what matters in politics
Kenneth Tingley | October 13, 2019
KINGSBURY — It was game day for Rep. Elise Stefanik Friday at the Kingsbury fire house.
Dressed in a bright pink jacket and smiling broadly, Rep. Stefanik took center stage for approximately two hours and fielded more than 60 questions from friends and foes alike. But I suspect few in attendance learned anything new.
I know I didn’t.
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I was hoping that Rep. Stefanik would address the escalating tensions surrounding the continuing unsavory behavior at the Glens Falls rallies.
I was hoping she would express concern for the members of the press.
I was hoping she would express regret for a staff member thanking a supporter who had threatened this newspaper and then urged him to attend the town hall.
I was disappointed.
“The press is incredibly important,” she said 17 minutes into the town hall before explaining how her staff diligently fact checks their stories for accuracy. What is ironic is that many of her past campaign ads do not pass the fact-check test.
Three different times she asserted the value of a free press.
She also condemned violence of any kind several times.
Obviously, both should be bedrock values of all Americans. Unfortunately, they apparently need to be reinforced. That’s where we are these days.
Rep. Stefanik never addressed why her staff thanked a man who had threatened the newspaper.
Before the town hall, she confirmed that her staff had invited the man. During the town hall, the man asked her a question about red flag laws. The irony seemed to be lost on her that the man who had threatened this newspaper was asking her a question about gun control.
She never offered up any concern for the men and women with families who work at The Post-Star.
She never took me up on my offer to address the non-journalists in our building who were nervous about the threat.
She never bothered to respond to my email condemning the actions of her staff.
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