Posted on 08/26/2008 12:26:08 PM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines
ROSENDALE, NY—Controversial upstate New York Congressman Maurice Hinchey has been ordered to town court to answer a charge that he struck a constituent during a July event.
Democrat Hinchey, who represents Ithaca and much of the state’s Southern Tier, has been directed to appear in Rosendale Town Court on September 9 to answer a charge of Harassment Second Degree.
According to the Kingston Daily Freeman the charge stems from an altercation between Hinchey and a local member of the National Rifle Association:
Paul Lendvay, 46, of Rosendale, the chairman of the Catskill Regional Friends of the National Rifle Association, had said earlier this month he expected to file a complaint against Hinchey, claiming the congressman smacked him in the head July 19 during the town's street fair.Through a spokesperson, Hinchey has denied the charge and speculated it is politically motivated.
****
He said Hinchey approached the table and picked up one of the guns to look at it. Lendvay said he told the congressman to put the rifle down - noting that part of the NRA's agreement with Rosendale police was that no one except the people manning the table would be allowed to touch the weapons - and that when Hinchey "took his sweet time" in obliging, an argument ensued.During the argument, Lendvay said, Hinchey approached him where he sat and "hit me on the top of my head.”
The volatile Hinchey is no stranger to controversy for his actions. In 2003, he drew fire for suggesting that U.S. soldiers in Iraq were participating in a “massacre,” and, in 2005, he accused Karl Rove of masterminding the forged National Guard memos that led to the retirement of CBS anchor Dan Rather.
He also drew attention that year for “racking up a stunning $161,393 [in free travel] footed by special-interest groups.”
More recently, he was in the news for suggesting that the Democrat-controlled congress was planning to nationalize the oil industry. He later tried to retract those remarks.
If convicted as charged, Hinchey faces up to fifteen days in jail, together with fines and mandatory state surcharges.
You guys have nothing on the 12th congressional district. You want to see a really screwed up gerrymandered district? Check out the 12th in NY.
So let be get this straight. Maurice the socialist Hinchey assaulted a constituent who was just trying to ensure that local gun-control laws were followed? Could you imagine what would happen if a Republican broke a gun control law and assaulted the owner?
It appears that Ithaca, NY would qualify as one of Michigan’s “Cool Cities” according to Governor Jennifer Granholm’s (D) criteria- The more it looks, walks and sounds like San Francisco the better its chances of being declared a “Cool City”.
"Forget about it Jake, it's China Town."
Wouldn’t know ... don’t read the Ithaca URINAL except for Friday for the TV paper.
Comrade MO HIN CHEE, should be sitting next to Jack Nicholson in the CUCKOO’S NEST.
This is our guy!
And after listening to him on local radio these past months spewing the “use it or lose it” garbage, windfall taxes against “big oil”, and other liberal lunacy - imagine my surprise to read this headline.
These peace activists sure are a violent bunch aren’t they?
“And I’m originally from Broome County - Vestal, NY - which is near Binghamton - kind of center-left on your map there (and, thanks to Binghamton University, on the political spectrum as well).”
Owego Indian here - graduate of BU.
“The irony is that in between the “Ithaca” part of the district and the “NYC” part of the district lies some serious redneck country. Some of the best trout fishing in the world can be found right there in Delaware County.”
I’m there!
Unfortunately it’s also a good place to have a successful meth business - but that’s been getting better lately.
I lived in Enbdicott/Binghamton for 13 years...
It’s a small world, isn’t it? (after all!) ;-P
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.