A PIX11 debate question about a federal law on consent turned into the night's sharpest clash in the NY-17 race, after Cait Conley accused Mike Lawler of defending an accused abuser — and Lawler fired back over Eliot Spitzer.
The clash came during Wednesday night's PIX11 debate in New York's 17th Congressional District, where Republican Rep. Mike Lawler faced Democratic challenger Cait Conley, an Army veteran and former National Security Council counterterrorism director. Moderator Dan Mannarino asked whether there should be a federal definition or law for consent — and the answer turned into a fight about domestic abuse.
Conley had already gone at Lawler over Rep. Max Miller of Ohio, whose ex-wife, Emily Moreno, has accused him of physical abuse. Conley charged that Lawler defended Miller and blamed the ex-wife.
Lawler pushed back at once. "First of all, I did not blame Emily." He said he knows both people, called the situation tragic, and said it should be dealt with in family court.
Then he counterattacked. "You're the one who took money from Eliot Spitzer," Lawler said, pressing Conley on the former Democratic governor who resigned in 2008 after revelations that he used a prostitution ring — asking whether she thought what Spitzer did was appropriate.
Conley's reply was the line of the night. "I do not need you to mansplain to me what domestic abuse and sexual assault against women are, and the appropriate response. Sit over there."
Lawler kept pressing his point, noting that he is a father of two daughters. But it was Conley's line that travelled: the Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century clipped the exchange, and it spread fast online overnight.
NY-17 — all of Rockland and Putnam counties and parts of Westchester and Dutchess — is one of the most closely watched House races in the country, and Lawler has beaten well-funded Democrats in the last two cycles.
Wednesday's exchange put the race's sharpest fault line on stage: who gets believed, and who gets defended, when abuse is alleged. With the midterms weeks away, both campaigns know that clip will keep playing.
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