FDNY reverses course on 'hunt' for firefighters who booed Letitia James, cheered Donald Trump
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Leaders of the New York City Fire Department have extinguished prospects for a “hunt” for rank-and-file members who jeered the Empire State’s Attorney General Letitia James when she took the stage at a ceremony last week.

“At no point has there been an investigation into members booing,” an FDNY spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday, appearing to contradict reports of an internal email from brass that generated half a week of bad press for the department.

FDNY Chief of Department John Hodgens handed down a fiery list of talking points last week, according to the New York Post, after some members booed James and chanted “Trump! Trump! Trump!” as she took the stage during a promotion ceremony at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. 

The behavior was “unacceptable,” and members who appeared on video from the event would reportedly be investigated internally.

“I think they will both look like the bigger people if they handle it that way,” he told Fox News Digital. “We’re prepared to fight if they’re not going to handle it that way. Or, hopefully, if that’s the case and the fire department can move on and everybody can move on and do what they intended to do, which is to protect the people of New York City, which the men and women of New York City Fire Department do incredibly well.”

Last year, FDNY Local 2507 advised members to immediately ask for a union representative if approached by a BITS officer, warning that investigators had been “baiting” members into confrontations that resulted in disciplinary measures.

New York Attorney General Letitia James looks on as former U.S. President Donald Trump attends the Trump Organization civil fraud trial

New York Attorney General Letitia James looks on as former President Trump attends the Trump Organization civil fraud trial in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan Oct. 25, 2023.  (Dave Sanders/Pool via REUTERS )

And Kavanagh has also had a rocky tenure. She was never a firefighter before joining the FDNY as a civilian official in 2017. After becoming commissioner, she feuded with her own former top chiefs last year when they asked to be demoted in response to her policies, according to the Post

“This is the first time I’ve ever seen the dirty laundry get aired like this,” Gelormino said. “She needs to do a better job of connecting with the rank and file again. The fire department in New York City has never been questioned. They do an incredible job.”

James’ office recently took former President Trump to a New York City civil court, resulting in a $350 million ruling against him last month. She also successfully sued former NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre, who was ordered to repay the organization $5 million in misspent funds.

James was invited to the event by the new FDNY chaplain, Pamela Holmes, who was honored at the ceremony and is friends with the attorney general.

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