Rep. Stefanik said the officers involved in the death of George Floyd need to be "prosecuted to the absolute fullest extent." Photo: Emily Russell

Jun 02, 2020 — Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says police need to be held accountable in the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in police custody in Minneapolis last week.

 "My heart breaks," Stefanik said, "America’s heart breaks for George Floyd and his entire family. I believe that the officers involved need to be prosecuted to the absolute fullest extent.”

Stefanik spoke to reporters while touring a plastics factory in Plattsburgh on Monday. She said there should be zero tolerance for any form of racism, "whether it's racial slurs or racial messaging," adding that the peaceful protesters "have an important message to share that we as Americans need to listen to."

President Donald Trump hasn't spoken publicly since Saturday, when he shared a similar sentiment: "We will stand with the family of George Floyd, with the peaceful protestors, and with every law-abiding citizen who wants decency, civility, safety, and security."

Trump has taken a different tone in regard to protesters on Twitter, calling them thugs and saying  "when the looting starts, the shooting starts."  The President also warned that if protesters tried to breach the fence of the White House, "they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen," 

When asked about Trump's tweets and the lack of a public statement since Saturday, Stefanik called on the President to address the public about George Floyd’s death and police brutality.  “Whether that’s an oval office address or some form of providing a message to the American people that we grieve together, but also the importance of the rule of law.”

The New York Times and Washington Post report President Trump berated Governors in a private conference call today, calling them “weak” and saying they should “dominate” the protestors.

A majority of protests have been peaceful, including those here in the North Country, but there has been some violence and clashes on both sides – by protesters and by police – and some looting in cities around the country.

Officials are bracing for more unrest tonight.