Fallen New York Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller's family refused to allow New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) and New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to speak at the officer's funeral services.
This is according to reporting from Fox News' Brian Kilmeade.
"I have now learned tonight from a source that Kathy Hochul, the governor, asked to speak at tomorrow's funeral at St. Rose [of Lima Roman Catholic Church]. So did, hold on to something tight: A.G. Letitia James," Kilmeade reported.
He added, "Both were rejected by the family."
For those unfamiliar with how Diller died, ABC News reports:
Police said Diller, 31, was shot and killed while conducting a traffic stop in Queens on Monday -- becoming the first NYC police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.
It's a tragic situation for Diller's family. And, from a political perspective, it has turned into a nightmare situation for local and national Democrats.
On the national level, President Joe Biden has received heavy criticism for attending a "glitzy" fundraiser instead of paying respects to Diller's family. Former President Donald Trump, on the hand, did pay respects, and, in his view, he said that Biden should have been there as well.
On the local level, Huchul, James, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), and others have also faced significant criticism.
Many of these individuals did attempt to attend the memorial services for Diller, but, upon doing so, they were confronted and allegedly driven out by the mourners.
Fox News reports, "Images captured outside the funeral home showed Hochul being confronted by mourners, after which time she left the venue."
The outlet adds, "New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg were also confronted by mourners, but that neither man engaged in any back-and-forth."
Kilmeade reports the mourners as telling Hochul that she has Diller's "blood" on her hands. The mourners made it clear that they believe that New York Democrats' lax law enforcement is largely to blame for Diller's passing.
Hochul is now trying to save face. She has put out a statement claiming:
We always ask: "Would the families like us there?" If the families say, "No, this is the time for our personal family grieving, we don’t want a politician there," we don’t go. In this case, we asked. We were told the family is welcoming. We always check, and they said to come, and I went. And no one told me to leave.
The only problem is that this statement seems to conflict with reporting on the event.
