Dutchess legislature candidates exchange Facebook barbs about president

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The Facebook post (some names blurred by us)

TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – In a heated battle between incumbent Democratic Dutchess County Legislator Giancarlo Llaverias and his Republican challenger Margaret Kakish, a Facebook post that addresses the possibility of the murder of a President of the United States has taken center stage.

On September 26, RJ Johnson posted the following question naming three people, including Legislator Llaverias:  “If Donald Trump was dying and offer 1M to save his life would you or would you let him die.”

Llaverias responded by saying “Take the million then after I save him, kill him and hire the lawyers.”

The response, which seemingly calls for the hypothetical murder of President Trump, has drawn the attention of several people, including Kakish.  The Republican responded by denouncing Llaverias’ saying it is “disturbing and unacceptable for a legislator to call for the death of the President.”  She also took to Facebook to denounce the comment saying, “Regardless of your political or personal differences, it’s never okay to talk about wanting to kill someone,” and she said Llaverias often talks about being a role model and said “this is not role model behavior.”

When asked about the post, Llavarias said that he did not recall making the comment and claimed that he was no longer able to find the post on his timeline.  When asked if he thought it was appropriate to advocate the killing of the President, he responded by saying, “It’s never okay to advocate the death of anyone, whether that person is a president or a private citizen.  Politics is a dirty game where most people do anything to win, but we must remember outside our affiliations exist the most important party, and that’s the human race.”

The race between Llaverias and Kakish is a rematch of two years ago.  The district encompasses a large portion of the Town of Poughkeepsie.




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