During a town hall event on Sunday, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) was asked about previous controversial comments from Elon Musk.
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00:000-5-8-0-5-6. 0-5-8-0-5-6. 0-5-8-0-5-6.
00:15You're the next contestant on The Price is Right.
00:22Okay, thank you. Yeah, hi there. I was just curious. So, good job on the anti-Semitism bills that you've been pushing. Have you heard any Elon Musk jokes lately?
00:39That was a question. I find it ironic that you'll take all the money from APAC, and then you'll take all the money from Musk.
00:56But then you can go down. Do you remember the little rant that Musk just went on not too long ago that wrapped the whole thing up with?
01:03I'll bet you did not see that coming lately. Have you spoken out about Musk in his view?
01:12And how that doesn't align with the anti-Semitism?
01:16Calling people a Nazi because you disagree with them is foolish. It's foolish.
01:23And it doesn't actually serve a purpose. It doesn't actually serve a purpose.
01:28It may make you feel good, but it doesn't actually serve a purpose.
01:33All right, next question.
01:44Okay, people.
01:452-8-0-0-7-2.
01:502-8-0-0-7-2.
01:562-8-0-0-7-2.
02:01Nope.
02:032-8-0-0-6-3.
02:132-8-0-0-6-3.
02:18The rules were you don't yell out.
02:20So the person with 2-8-0-0-6-3 can ask the next question.
02:29No?
02:29How about we pull another number?
02:332-8-0-0-4-0.
02:392-8-0-0-4-0.
02:46Okay, we have someone.
02:48We have it in the back.
02:49In the back.
02:50Teresa, we have it in the back.
02:51Okay.
02:52We have the phone and tickets back here.
02:57I have all the tickets.
02:58They're all here.
02:59You need a microphone over here.
03:01She has the tickets.
03:02Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am.
03:03I'm right here.
03:03Great.
03:03No problem.
03:06That's okay.
03:07Oh, okay.
03:08I have the numbers.
03:10Hello?
03:12Hi.
03:12Congressman, we're in the far right corner.
03:16Okay.
03:21Hi.
03:22Hi, Congressman.
03:23I just want to make clear that I stress that I'm an independent in the suburbs.
03:31So since you keep saying back and forth, the prior administration, hearing it, I just want
03:36you to know I'm an independent.
03:38So I don't care if the person is green, yellow, Republican, Democrat, long as their policy fit
03:48what's good for my family.
03:49So now let me get into why my family's hurt right now.
03:53So I come from a family, a background of all law enforcement, including myself.
03:59All right?
03:59So I have several family members that also work for the FBI.
04:06They're in Washington.
04:07They're under attack.
04:08All right?
04:09So I just want to know why I never hear you speak out in defense of the FBI and all the
04:19other federal law enforcement.
04:20Because these guys right now, for the work that they do, they have to be quiet.
04:27They don't want to be targeted.
04:30And they need someone to speak up for them because they're looking like they're the bad
04:35guy.
04:35They're looking like they're the problem.
04:37So I never hear you really say that what's happening to all the law enforcement agencies,
04:44as well as some of the federal agencies, somebody to speak up for them.
04:48And that's what I want to know.
04:50So I appreciate, appreciate your question.
04:55I have always been very loud and clear about my support for law enforcement across every
05:05entity within law enforcement, including the FBI.
05:09I spoke out against what happened on January 6th.
05:16I spoke out against the pardons of those who attacked law enforcement on January 6th.
05:24They should not have been pardoned.
05:25I said that very clearly.
05:29Within any entity, on all sides, everybody can always find an example of something they
05:38disagree with or some decision that was made or try to associate the actions of one individual
05:45in a broad brush.
05:46I think the men and women of the FBI and the Department of Justice do a phenomenal job
05:53keeping our country safe, keeping our communities safe, and upholding the law.
06:01There are always going to be instances where people can disagree, people of good faith and
06:08goodwill can disagree on a decision or a outcome of a case.
06:13But the fact is, and I know many FBI agents, many of whom live in our community, many of
06:19whom have served for decades, in the aftermath of 9-11, it was the FBI that really took on
06:27the cause of protecting our country.
06:30And they did a phenomenal job, and all of us know that.
06:35And so, look, there are obviously changes that are being made in the Department of Justice,
06:42in the FBI, ATF, DEA.
06:47And I fundamentally believe within any entity, any government entity, reform in and of itself
06:56is not a bad thing.
06:58The reality is, you should always be trying to improve processes.
07:02You should always be trying to right wrongs or correct things that may not have gone well,
07:08or decisions that were made that did not go well.
07:12I think in this country today, there is a strong feeling, and both sides have it.
07:19Both sides accuse the other side of weaponization.
07:22Both sides accuse the other side of using power to go after political opponents.
07:30I fundamentally believe all of us, as Americans, none of us should want that at any time, in
07:37any department, in any agency, because all it does is undermine our faith and confidence
07:43in our government and our system.
07:47And so, I always defend law enforcement.
07:50That doesn't mean that I won't point out when there is a criticism to be had or point out
07:58where a mistake was made.
08:00But the men and women, by and large, across this country, whether it's the FBI, whether
08:07it is our local law enforcement, the NYPD, the sheriff's department, our town municipal
08:13police departments, they do a phenomenal job, and they deserve our thanks.
08:17And they're here tonight to keep everybody safe, and I appreciate them doing so.