“Are You Standing By Him?” Kelly Ayotte AGAIN Fails to Renounce Rep. Jon Stone’s Endorsement
“Are You Standing By Him?” Kelly Ayotte AGAIN Fails to Renounce Rep. Jon Stone’s Endorsement
In a recent appearance on WMUR’s CloseUp, candidate for governor and former U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte was asked by host Adam Sexton if she is “standing by” the endorsement she received from state Rep. Jon Stone after it was reported that he “threatened to kill fellow police officers in a shooting spree, and murder his chief after raping the chief’s wife and children, all while he was already under scrutiny for his inappropriate relationship with a teen girl.”
Ayotte refused to officially renounce Stone’s endorsement once and for all, and instead dodged the question, failing to distance herself from his violent threats against New Hampshire police officers and families.
WATCH:
This is the first time Ayotte has publicly acknowledged her relationship with Rep. Stone after weeks of dodging questions from reporters across the state, including the Union Leader, the Boston Globe, and Massachusetts Politico Playbook.
The Boston Globe has also reported that Ayotte would have known about the incident with Stone even before accepting his endorsement, since, as Attorney General, Ayotte “served on the Police Standards & Training Council,” which works to “shape, sustain and strengthen the competency and professionalism of New Hampshire law enforcement.” According to the Globe, Ayotte’s “spokespeople did not respond to questions about whether authorities took adequate steps in 2006 and 2007 to hold Stone accountable.”
Meanwhile, Stone’s name is still listed on Ayotte’s endorsement page on her website, and posts of them campaigning together are still live on her social media.
“When given yet another opportunity to renounce Rep. Jon Stone’s endorsement and distance herself from his violent and disgusting rhetoric against New Hampshire police officers and families once and for all, Kelly Ayotte refused,” said DGA States Press Secretary Emma O’Brien. “This tells Granite Staters everything they need to know: Ayotte cares more about playing politics than standing up for New Hampshire families, and that she isn’t fit for the corner office.”
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