Cuomo Now Admits He Was Wrong To Downplay NYPD's Excessive Use Of Force

[demmiblue]

Source: TPM

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-N.Y.) dramatically walked back his previous defense of the New York Police Department during a press conference Friday, admitting that video evidence documenting the excessive use of force to contain protests is verifiable and “undeniable.”

Cuomo’s Friday admission was a significant reversal from his remarks just a day earlier. When asked by reporters on Thursday about instances of police abuse — documented en masse in online videos that show police officers shoving and bludgeoning protesters, journalists, and passersby with batons — Cuomo instead accused the media of launching a partisan attack. He then admonished New Yorkers for showing “disrespect” for police.

“Police bludgeon peaceful protesters with batons for no reason? That’s not a fact,” Cuomo said Thursday. “They don’t do that. Anyone who did do that would be obviously reprehensible if not criminal.”

The governor pulled up a different set of facts during his Friday press conference when he flashed a video clip of a 75-year-old man in Buffalo, New York being pushed to the ground by police.

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ny-gov-denies-excessive-use-force-protests

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Ya think? Good lawd, the level of attempted cover-up is just sickening.

[Bengus81]

1. I didn't know that he did, thought it was just Di Blasio..........

Hmmmm.......

[demmiblue]

5. They both suck in this regard.

“Police bludgeon peaceful protesters with batons for no reason? That’s not a fact,” Cuomo said Thursday. “They don’t do that. Anyone who did do that would be obviously reprehensible if not criminal.”

Everyone, everywhere knows that the police commit undeserving violent acts on the daily, especially now. It's not like it is a secret.

De Blasio, Cuomo stand by cops amid outcry

NEW YORK — Mayor Bill de Blasio returned to a staunch defense of the NYPD on Thursday amid outcry over police officers using force to disperse peaceful protesters and Gov. Andrew Cuomo emphatically backed the response as well, days after accusing the NYPD of failing to do its job and stop looting.

“There was overwhelmingly, overwhelmingly peace last night in New York City. The NYPD was out there protecting us,” de Blasio told reporters Thursday. “We have a police force trained to respect the people of this city, and to respect the right to protest. So that’s what’s happened overwhelmingly.”

The mayor delivered his verdict even as he acknowledged he had not seen viral videos of police using batons and wrestling with protesters who were on the streets past the city's 8 p.m. curfew which will remain in place through Sunday night.

“I have not seen the videos you refer to or seen those accounts,” he said. “If there’s anything that’s a concern, a problem, anything questionable, anything inappropriate it will be followed up against immediately.”

https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2020/06/04/de-blasio-cuomo-stand-by-cops-amid-outcry-1291040

Such a disappointment.

[dem4decades]

2. Cuomo has been good concerning Covid but he should forget about national office.

[Polybius]

16. Has he really though?

Seems he made quite a few mistakes himself.

[Coventina]

3. FTP & ACAB

[sheshe2]

4. To little to late.

He blew it. Quick to condemn media before viewing the evidence.

I am disappointed in him after all his good work in NY battling Covid19.

[spudspud]

6. Yea, I agree. My jaw dropped when he defended the cops so blindly on Thursday.

The gaslighting he was doing was astonishing. All I could think about was how he just blew all the good will and political capital he had earned from his COVID response and daily press briefings. He's in damage control mode now after that Thursday press conference. Unfortunate.

[sheshe2]

8. It all happened on his watch.

Sadly he was not watching what was happening in his own state.

As you said, unfortunate.

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. Ya think?

[Stonepounder]

9. Personally, I think he did something that most politicians are loath to do.

He came out and said "I Was Wrong" And only one day later.

He's not perfect, but seems to me this was his first significant misstep since then all began.

[demmiblue]

10. Naw. He is not stupid, he was spinning. n/t

[onetexan]

11. Agree. He admitted it, and that is a sign of a good leader.

Better deal with it now than wait years later when he's running for POTUS to have to explain. And yes i do want a future President Cuomo.

[PSPS]

12. I respect anyone who admits he was wrong. If anything, this enhances my admiration of the guy.

[forgotmylogin]

15. True. That is a tenet of liberalism.

People are allowed to learn from mistakes and change. It's the only way forward.

If someone changes for the better and acknowledges error, at some point beating them up with previously held beliefs has to stop.

[Cha]

13. Gov Cuomo Admits he was Wrong! TY Gov..

That's strength to admit when you're wrong.

[TheFourthMind]

14. "Film the police! And Ren said it with authority..." n/t