logo
New Mexico GOP chief accuses Democratic rep of 'contradictory' rhetoric after alleged arson attack

New Mexico GOP chief accuses Democratic rep of 'contradictory' rhetoric after alleged arson attack

Fox News31-03-2025

New Mexico GOP Chairwoman Amy Barela called out Democrats' inflammatory rhetoric Monday after an alleged arsonist targeted the state Republican Party's headquarters over the weekend.
Her comments came after New Mexico Democratic Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández encouraged Democrats to "respond" to the Trump administration's changes with a "three-prong project" during a "Republican Ripoff" town hall.
"Legislate. Litigate. Agitate. And you guys are part of the agitate party, so don't feel like we are hopeless or helpless when we express our outrage," Leger Fernández told an audience in Santa Fe on Saturday, one day before the attack.
She brought down the temperature in an X post after the attack on Sunday, calling political violence "unacceptable," and adding that perpetrators must be "held accountable" so every American can "freely and safely participate" in democracy.
"At my town hall yesterday, I spoke about love in action – about the importance of showing respect and listening. That is what we need right now," she added.
Barela was quick to point out the timeliness of the attack, however, pointing to the "agitate" remark as a potential inciter.
"I believe that she changed her statement as soon as I came out to the media and was calling her out on those statements. You're holding a town hall to discuss about the love of the community, and you use the words 'agitate.' I think it's contradictory," she said on "Fox & Friends."
Though the incident is still under investigation, Barela said an incendiary device was planted outside the GOP headquarters' doorway around 1 a.m. Sunday and was ignited around 5 a.m.
Graffiti reading "ICE = KKK" was spray-painted on the side of the building as well.
Though no one was inside at the time, Barela said she fears for the "safety of [her] staff" in light of a wave of violent protests sweeping the nation.
She called on Democrats to "come to the table and work together" to fix New Mexico's crime problems instead of "calling out for violence and destruction."
Authorities are now investigating the incident as a hate crime, though officials have yet to determine an exact cause or motive, local outlet KOAT-TV in Albuquerque reported.
Leger Fernández said in a statement to the outlet, "Political violence of any sort is unacceptable, including this attack. The perpetrators must be held accountable. Every American should be able to freely and safely participate in our democracy."
The Democratic congresswoman condemned the act of violence again, telling the Santa Fe New Mexican her town hall emphasized "the importance of showing respect and listening."
"It is a ludicrous leap to twist encouraging democratic participation, calling your representatives and showing up at town halls into an insinuation of violence," she said, per the outlet.
"The Republican Party's accusations are themselves dangerous and the ultimate disrespect to our political process. They distract from the real work of bringing people together to build a better future," she added.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three cheers for the US-China trade war ceasefire
Three cheers for the US-China trade war ceasefire

New York Post

time13 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Three cheers for the US-China trade war ceasefire

Yay! High-level US-China talks in London this week reached a trade-war ceasefire, offering some stability for nervous markets. Days of talks, following on President Donald Trump's call with China's Xi Jinping last Thursday, settled on a framework that leaves a 55% US tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% Chinese levy on American imports. Plus, Beijing will ease restrictions on rare-earth exports while Washington will back off on its developing ban on Chinese students attending American universities. Plenty of issues remain: China's key role in world fentanyl production, for one thing; its long history of intellectual-property theft, currency manipulation and so on. Not to mention the outright espionage that so many of those students are dragged into. And of course in the longer term the United States needs to be less dependent on China for rare earths, pharmaceutical precursors and many other critical needs. The two sides are supposed to reach a comprehensive deal by Aug. 10, but at least the summer should be calm. The chaos of on-again, off-again tariffs had led to turbulence in US markets and had mom-and-pop shops bracing for 'the end'; now they can plan at least a couple of months ahead, with solid reason to hope the worst is over. US businesses can adapt to 55% tariffs on Chinese goods, as long as they've got some certainty that the rate will remain stable. Kudos to Treasury and Commerce Secretaries Scott Bessent and Howard Lutnick, the top US negotiators in London, for mastering 'the art of the framework'; let's hope Trump and Xi can close a final deal.

Congress to grill Kathy Hochul on NY sanctuary laws — and local GOP offers spicy advice over what questions they should ask
Congress to grill Kathy Hochul on NY sanctuary laws — and local GOP offers spicy advice over what questions they should ask

New York Post

time13 minutes ago

  • New York Post

Congress to grill Kathy Hochul on NY sanctuary laws — and local GOP offers spicy advice over what questions they should ask

ALBANY – State Republican lawmakers offered advice to their congressional counterparts ahead of Gov. Kathy Hochul testimony on Thursday over sanctuary policies – outlining a list of questions to fling at the Democrat. The GOP legislators sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer ahead of Hochul's trip to Washington, DC where she'll be grilled by a congressional panel on the Empire State's sanctuary laws. 'Governor Hochul's sanctuary state policies have played a direct role in the ongoing migrant crisis throughout our state, despite bipartisan concern including repeated warnings from New York City Mayor Eric Adams,' Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-Staten Island) wrote in the letter, cosigned by various other New York GOP lawmakers. Advertisement 'We believe that Governor Hochul must be held accountable for her failure to reverse the state's sanctuary policies and recklessness with taxpayer dollars,' Tannousis continued. Gov. Kathy Hochul is set to testify on capitol hill Thursday on New York's sanctuary city laws and its handling of the influx of migrants. Hochul is voluntarily appearing before the House committee on Capitol Hill and will testify alongside Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Advertisement In their letter, the Republican state lawmakers ask the House Republicans to ask Hochul to outline: Why New York continued to accept migrants during the height of the crisis The vetting process for migrants and concerns about public safety A shady $432 million no-bid contract awarded to DocGo to help mitigate the crisis Her justification for roughly $4 billion the state has spent dealing with migrants Why some municipalities weren't reimbursed with costs associated with the migrants Tannousis said he wants the House Oversight committee to follow through after Hochul's testimony to deliver 'accountability.' The governor has tried to navigate a vague middle ground when it comes to the state's sanctuary policy, which is still based on a 2017 executive order issued by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo who is now running for mayor of New York City. Advertisement Assemblyman Michael Tannousis and other Albany Republicans wrote a letter to the House panel suggesting areas where they should hammer Hochul. Michael McWeeney Hochul had promised specifics and clarity over her guidance on how New York would work with federal immigration authorities. Instead, her office only provided a list of four broad categories of situations that would trigger state law enforcement to work with the feds, such as if ICE has a judicial warrant or when relevant to investigating another crime committed in New York. Hochul had previously said she was 'happy to go down' to DC for the hearing. 'I'll tell them our policy in the state of New York is not to use state resources, our state police, to enforce the civil infractions,' Hochul said earlier this year.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store