Quinn raps Rudy $ bid over scuffle
ALBANY — A state Democratic Party leader Monday blasted former Mayor Rudy Giuliani for a fundraising letter he sent ripping the “unhinged left” for damaging a Manhattan Republican club a day before the founder of the ultra-nationalist right-wing group, the Proud Boys, spoke.
In a statement responding to a Monday Daily News column on Giuliani’s fundraising effort on behalf of the New York County GOP committee, Christine Quinn, Gov. Cuomo’ handpicked vice chairwoman of the state Democratic party, blasted the former mayor for putting party above the city he once led.
Quinn called on Giuliani to apologize “for this cheap political stunt.”
“This disgusting fundraising pitch demonstrates Giuliani’s complicity in the attack and shows just how out of step the NY GOP has become with not only reality, but the basic values of decency and respect,” Quinn said. “By turning hate and division into a twisted fund-raising opportunity, (President) Trump and Giuliani are trying to capitalize on the violent racist propaganda spewed by an alt-right, homophobic, transphobic, chauvinist hate group.”
Giuliani could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon about Quinn’s statement.
Leading Manhattan Republican John Catsimatidis, the head of the Red Apple Group and father of New York County GOP Chairwoman Andrew Catsimatidis, defended the former mayor.
“I don’t know why she’s ripping into him,” he said, noting that he’d never before heard of the Proud Boys. “I do believe in the right of people to speak their piece in peace.”
He blamed the left wing anarchist group, Antifa, for inciting the violence.
“We need to follow the money and see who is funding this Antifa group,” he said.
Giuliani’s fund-raising letter sent out Monday focused on the vandalism done to the Metropolitan Republican Club, but made no mention it was in response to Gavin McInnes, the founder of the controversial Proud Boys, being invited to speak. Violence broke out after the speech, with members on both sides ultimately arrested.