Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) is requesting President Joe Biden delay his planned trip to Syracuse, New York, as law enforcement officers in the area are reeling from the deaths of two police officers.
Biden is visiting upstate New York on Thursday to tout the CHIPS and Science Act, among other stops in the Empire State. In a letter to Biden on Monday, Williams, who represents Syracuse and its suburbs in Congress, said that he should postpone his trip after two police officers, Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen and Onondaga County Lt. Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock, were killed in the line of duty earlier this month.
“In light of these tragic events, we’re hearing from local law enforcement officers that personnel are still recovering from this tragedy and grieving their fallen brothers. I echo their request that you postpone this week’s speaking engagement in Central New York,” Williams wrote to the president.
“I would be happy to join you in announcing this critical funding at a later date — it is worth celebrating. Mr. President, I ask you to heed the calls of local law enforcement and postpone it to a later date,” he added.
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh’s office told CNY Central that they asked Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) for help from the New York State Police, who agreed to assist with security for the president’s visit.
Other House Republicans from the Empire State have called on Biden to postpone his visit in recent days, with Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) calling the trip close to the death of the police officers a “misguided and cruel move by the Biden administration.”
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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) also called on Biden to postpone the trip on Sunday, saying in part that “our Upstate New York law enforcement deserves our full support from every level of government.”
The White House declined to comment on the matter when reached by the Washington Examiner.
