Politics

‘If I Didn’t Have A Primary I Wouldn’t Care’: Democratic Rep. Eliot Engel Caught On Hot Mic At Press Conference

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Democratic New York Rep. Eliot Engel was caught on a hot mic Tuesday appearing to admit that he only cared about speaking at a press conference on the George Floyd protests because he has a primary opponent.

Local officials held a press conference Tuesday after rioters and looters ransacked New York City on Monday night.

The press conference livestream appears to show Engel asking to speak at the event before telling a local official: “If I didn’t have a primary I wouldn’t care.”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. asked Engel to repeat himself, and the congressman obliged. “If I didn’t have a primary I wouldn’t care,” Engel repeated.

“Don’t do that to me,” Diaz responded.

Neither Engel or Diaz Jr’s offices immediately returned requests for comment.

New York City saw another night of violence and looting on Monday night, as the country saw its seventh straight night of unrest following Floyd’s death.

The 46-year-old black man died after a Minneapolis, Minnesota, police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes, despite Floyd saying he couldn’t breath, a video showed. The officer, Derek Chauvin, has been fired and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter for Floyd’s death.