Police Investigating Spitting Attack by Hillary Convention Delegates

Source: NewsMax.com
Published: 5/22/00

Author: Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

Albany’s Police Officers Union has launched a formal investigation into the spitting attack by Hillary Clinton supporters on an American flag-carrying police honor guard during Tuesday’s New York State Democratic Party convention.

In an exclusive interview with NewsMax.com on Sunday, Albany Police Union Chief Det. Thomas McGraw said that the spitting by delegates who later nominated Clinton for U.S. Senate was more widespread than first reported. On Thursday, The Albany Times Union said that only “a few people” participated in the ugly incident.

But McGraw challenged that claim, saying that members of the honor guard expressly told him it was “more than just a few” delegates who spit on and taunted them as they marched into the Pepsi Arena in full dress uniform.

“They could feel something hitting them as they escorted the Police Pipes & Bags Band out onto the floor for the opening ceremonies. And when they got done they realized what it was.” McGraw said the guard was carrying the New York State and Albany Police Department flags along with the Stars and Stripes.

McGraw also confirmed that shouts of “Nazis” and Giuliani’s Third Reich” came from the Democratic crowd as the five officers marched into the arena. When asked whether any objects had been thrown, the detective said, “Not that I’m aware of.”

Thursday’s Times Union report quoted Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings saying that he wanted to identify the perpetrators. When asked if there was a formal investigation underway, Det. McGraw told NewsMax.com, “There is, absolutely, by us in the union, to see if we can find who this contingent was so we can try to identify who was spitting on our officers.”

Officials said last week that the spitting and heckling took place on the floor of the arena, where only delegates carrying passes were allowed access.

“We’ve sent a letter requesting a formal apology from state Democratic Chairwoman Judith Hope,” McGraw said. “These officers were giving of their own time to act as ambassadors for the city of Albany at the request of convention organizers. I don’t think they should have been abused and spit on.”

Late Thursday, Republican National Committee chairman Jim Nicholson called on Mrs. Clinton to apologize for the spitting incident. McGraw said he has heard from neither Hope nor Clinton on the matter.

The veteran Albany detective said his union’s website had been deluged with supportive e-mail from around the country since news of the spitting attack began to spread.

Though most of the national press has decided not to report the convention shocker, McGraw said the Democrat’s cop-spitting attack was the dominant topic on Albany talk radio.

The Times Union has not done a follow up report since its initial coverage on Thursday, the detective said, adding, “It’s a political hot potato.”

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