Hochul Flees Slain Officer’s Wake After Conversation With His Family
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) only spent 15 minutes at the wake of fallen New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Jonathan Diller, as she fled the event following a tense exchange with a member of the officer’s family and another tense conversation with his widow.
In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Hochul was seen having a conversation with Diller’s family member, who was getting animated as he called her out for her policies that led to the officer’s death. He also reportedly told the Democrat governor that she was unwelcome at the wake.
Hochul and her team almost immediately left the event after the conversation, hopping back into her SUV and fleeing the scene.
A source told the New York Post that the family member “was going crazy” on the Democrat governor, slamming her for her soft-on-crime policies that led to Diller’s death — as he was murdered during a routine traffic stop by a career criminal with 21 prior arrests, 34-year-old Guy Rivera.
“We don’t want you here. You’re not wanted here. You have blood on your hands. If you want to do something, change the bail laws,” the man told Hochul.
The Democrat governor also reportedly had a tense exchange with Diller’s widow, who is now left to raise their one-year-old son alone after her husband’s murder.
“[It looked] like she was telling [Hochul] off,” a witness told the New York Post. “It didn’t look like the widow had a kind word to say.”
Another witness claimed that Hochul and the young widow had a “short, respectful conversation” while the Democrat governor was briefly inside the building. Other individuals in attendance told the outlet that Hochul and the widow had discussed “policy” in the short conversation.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump had a much better reception from the wake’s attendees. Photos of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee embracing Diller’s family have been shared on social media, including an image of Trump hugging the slain officer’s widow that was shared by Diller’s brother-in-law.
Guests of the wake who appeared on Fox News declared Trump “a source of comfort” for the Diller family, with one saying: “They gave him a rousing ovation. They clapped their hands and showed their gratitude for President Trump’s kindness and for his compassion. It is a moment I will NEVER forget. It was very comforting for the family.”
While Trump appeared at the slain officer’s wake, President Joe Biden spent the same day hanging out with out-of-touch celebrities and two former presidents — Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — at an extravagant fundraiser that was also held in New York City, leading many commentators to point out the stark difference in priorities of the two 2024 presidential candidates.
