Vulnerable GOPs Are Concerned Speaker Johnson’s Funding Strategy May Cost Them Reelection
'I hope it doesn’t hold up the funding'
‘Uptick in crime’ near controversial NYC migrant shelter prompts GOP lawmakers to demand vetting process records: Report
An “uptick in crime” near a controversial New York City migrant shelter prompted Republican lawmakers to send a letter, obtained by the New York Post, to the National Park Service demanding information about the vetting process for tenants.
House Republican Bruce Westerman, the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, and seven other GOP lawmakers penned a letter to NPS director Charles Sams stating that the House Committee on Natural Resources is examining the decision to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field, which is located on NPS land.
The city began housing migrants at the Brooklyn airfield in November after its existing shelter system neared capacity. Many of the migrants who were part of the first busload transported to Floyd Bennett Field refused to reside at the makeshift tent city shelter, complaining that the accommodations were too remote.
The shelter, which can house up to 2,000 migrants, became a hotbed for panhandling, according to residents in the area. An increase in begging and criminal activity prompted Democratic Mayor Eric Adams to impose a curfew at some migrant shelter locations.
“Since the establishment of the migrant encampment at Floyd Bennett Field, local and national media have reported an uptick in crime at the migrant encampment and in the immediate neighborhood surrounding the park,” lawmakers wrote to Sams.
The letter stated that the migrant crisis has led to an increase in criminal activity in the city and nationwide.
“The widespread reports of criminality in and around the Floyd Bennett Field migrant encampment include domestic violence, assault, shoplifting, prostitution, and panhandling scams,” the lawmakers said. “The Committee is deeply concerned with the Biden administration’s management of American’s public lands, notably at Floyd Bennett Field, and the inherent safety risks to employees at the park, residents of the surrounding communities, and migrants as a result of the decision to lease national park land for a migrant encampment.”
The lawmakers noted that the lease agreement states that the New York Police Department is the “primary entity responsible for law enforcement issues” at the encampment but that the Adams administration “contracted with a private security firm.”
“[O]n at least one occasion, the private security firm has impeded NYPD officers attempting to access the camp,” the letter claimed.
Lawmakers added that migrant tenants “are not subject to a basic background search during the intake process.”
“All tenants, employees of Floyd Bennett Field, and surrounding residents deserve to know if they are living with migrants who have previous arrest records and/or convictions,” the House Republicans wrote.
The letter requested that the NPS provide lawmakers with “documents and communications” concerning the lease and the shelter’s intake process by April 11.
Lawmakers demanded evidence that shows “how NPS has cooperated, or plans to cooperate, with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement],” “how the migrant tenants at Floyd Bennett Field are screened,” and “how NPS is preventing persons with a history of criminal conduct from residing at Floyd Bennett Field.”
The letter was signed by Republican Representatives Westerman from Arkansas, Paul Gosar from Arizona, and Mike Collins from Georgia. New York Republican Representatives Anthony D'Esposito, Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota, Nicole Malliotakis, and Elise Stefanik also signed the correspondence.
Neither the NPS nor Adams’ office responded to a request for comment from the Post.
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Months after being expelled from the House, George Santos announces congressional bid
Former Republican Rep. George Santos of New York, who was expelled from office last year, has announced a congressional bid.
"New York hasn't had a real conservative represent them since I left office arbitrarily, thanks to RINO, empty suits like @nicklalota. He is a willing to risk the future of our majority and the future of this country for his own political gain," Santos tweeted on Thursday night.
"Tonight, I want to announce that I will be returning to the arena of politics and challenging Nick for the battle over #NY1. I look forward to debating him on the issues and on his weak record as a Republican. The fight for our majority is imperative for the survival of the country," he wrote.
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Santos served as the representative for New York's Third Congressional District during most of last year, but in December was expelled from the House in a 311-114 vote
In February, Democrat Tom Suozzi won the seat during a special election.
"To raise the standard in Congress, and to hold a pathological liar who stole an election accountable, I led the charge to expel George Santos. If finishing the job requires beating him in a primary, count me in," Nick LaLota tweeted.
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Santos attended President Joe Biden's State of the Union address on Thursday night.
Earlier this year, the former congressman expressed interest in serving as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if former President Donald Trump becomes president again.
"My new year resolution is that President Trump returns to the white house and in 2025 I can be appointed Director of ICE," Santos said in a tweet. "ICE has had their hands tied for far too long with the sole exception of the great four years of DJT. The time is now and that's why I'm putting my name in the mix for a role that will take grit and a fearless person and not a coward that will fear media spin."
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In now-deleted tweet, Republican claimed the 1st Amendment is limited by 'hate speech'
A post claiming that the First Amendment is limited by "hate speech" has been deleted from Rep. Nick LaLota's (R-N.Y.) @RepLaLota X account.
"Our First Amendment comes with very few limitations. Yet, one of those worthy limitations is hate speech," the post read, according to screenshots of the now-deleted tweet. "A first-year law student understands this and so should the presidents of our 'greatest' institutions of learning."
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LaLota took office earlier this year and is seeking re-election.
According to his congressional website, the lawmaker has "a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law."
The First Amendment reads, in part, "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech."
People pounced on the congressman's post.
"First Amendment lawyer here. You are laughably wrong, and in saying 'even a first year law student understands it' you smashed a whole carton of eggson [sic] your own face. You're a Congressman. Please educate yourself (lots of CLE might be needed) before spreading misinformation," Ari Cohn tweeted.
"We need a system that doesn’t allow for people like this to be anywhere near the levers of power," Jack Posobiec wrote.
LaLota was one of the 18 House GOP lawmakers who earlier this year voted against a Defense Department appropriations bill amendment that would have prohibited the funds from being spent to observe Pride Month.
The congressman is a member of the House's Climate Solutions Caucus.
"We need to work in a serious and bipartisan manner to tackle pollution and mitigate mankind's negative effect on our environment. I joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus to do just that," LaLota said, according to a July press release.
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