Congressman Says NY Lawyer Can't Get Away With Racist Rant
*By Conor White*
The video of a racist rant by a New York lawyer that spread widely on the Internet this week is a shocking example of the impudence of racists and xenophobes, said Representative Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York.
"It's an air of intolerance that is gripping the nation," said Espaillat, who was the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress. "And it's people like this attorney, that think they are above the law, and think that they can do these things and get away with them."
The video shows Aaron Schlossberg, a 42 year old lawyer, berating the employees at a Fresh Kitchen in Midtown Manhattan for speaking to customers in Spanish. Schlossberg also threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
In an interview Thursday on Cheddar, Espaillat said there's no room for such hate in America, and he blamed President Trump for emboldening people like Schlossberg.
"It's very toxic rhetoric that is poisoning the atmosphere," Espaillat said. "And one cannot predict the type of harm that this rhetoric could have across the population."
The Congressman filed a formal grievance against Schlossberg with the New York State Unified Court System, and he said he and his office will welcome whatever the disciplinary committee ultimately decides.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/fighting-hate-in-america).
New York Congressman George Santos is now accused of stealing the identities of his political donors, according to a new 23-count indictment that prosecutors filed Tuesday.
A new indictment filed Tuesday charges U.S. Rep. George Santos with stealing the identities of donors to his campaign and then using their credit cards to ring up tens of thousands of dollars in unauthorized charges.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday condemned the militant group Hamas for “sheer evil” for its shocking multipronged attack on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip that has killed hundreds of civilians, including at least 14 American citizens.
More Californians with untreated mental illness and addiction issues could be detained against their will and forced into treatment under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, a move to help overhaul the state's mental health system and address its growing homelessness crisis.
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich lost an appeal Tuesday to be released from jail on espionage charges, meaning he will remain behind bars at least through Nov. 30.
