Mike Lawler Reacts to Elise Stefanik's Withdrawal from NY Governor Race

Elise Stefanik's Decision

• 📌 Mike Lawler acknowledges Elise Stefanik's withdrawal from the New York Gubernatorial race, stating he understands her decision as a colleague and friend.
• 💡 He describes Stefanik as a tremendous congresswoman who would have made a great governor.
• ⚠️ Lawler notes that these are not easy decisions to make, especially for those with young families, referencing his own considerations earlier in the year.

Potential Future Candidacy

• ⏳ Lawler indicated he needs time to comment further on his own potential plans regarding the governor race, having just learned the news.
• 🎯 He stated he will take a little time before commenting on what he may or may not do.

Focus on Defeating Kathy Hochul

• ⚡ Lawler emphasized that the focus for New York Republicans must be on defeating Governor Kathy Hochul.
• ❌ He characterized Hochul as the single worst governor in the country, citing her performance on key issues like affordability, public safety, housing, energy, and healthcare.

Jeffrey Epstein Document Release

• 🔍 Lawler commented on the impending release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, expressing no surprise.
• ⚖️ He stated that anyone involved in crimes related to the sexual exploitation or abuse of minors should be prosecuted if evidence emerges.
• 📄 He expects financial records, flight manifests, and other details to be released, urging full compliance with the law in redacting and releasing the documents.
• ⏳ Given the volume of documents, including grand jury transcripts, he understands that a full release within 30 days might not be realistic but expects expeditious compliance.