Espaillat fed up with Trump

It seems the controversies surrounding President Donald Trump are expanding and evolving each day, to the point one new Democratic congressman is calling the 45th leader of the free world to the carpet.

“Following several weeks of a series of reports detailing President Trump’s recklessness with our national security and blatant disregard of his oath to protect and serve as the highest guardian of our Constitution, it is more clear than ever that he nor aides within his administration understand what’s truly at stake for our country, our national security, and our reputation among allies around the world,” U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat said in a statement.

Trump has denied many of the allegations that have been levied against him and his administration over recent days, saying either his conversations were being misconstrued, or the reporting was outright false.

Diaz sticking by parade

Sponsors and elected officials have fled this year’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade in Manhattan because of a decision by parade organizers to honor a convicted terrorist. But not Ruben Diaz Jr.

The Bronx borough president said he plans to participate in the June 11 parade on Fifth Avenue, continuing a 20-year streak, and not letting the fact that Oscar Lopez Rivera — one of the leaders of a Puerto Rican terrorist group that is said to be responsible for more than 100 bomb attacks on U.S. targets — slow him down. 

“That so many sponsors have chosen to pull their support form this parade is incredibly disheartening,” Diaz, a potential mayoral candidate, said in a statement. “This parade is not about any particular individual, but the pride — orgullo — of the Puerto Rican people. To remove financial resources that foster this celebration sends an awful signal to a loyal customer base. Are we not wanted?”

Rivera was convicted in the early 1980s for his role in the Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional Puertorriqueño, a group that wanted to turn Puerto Rico into an independent, but communist country. He was sentenced to 55 years in prison, but had his sentence commuted earlier this year by President Barack Obama.

Rivera had a chance to leave prison in 1999 as President Bill Clinton was departing the White House, but Rivera refused the condition that he would renounce violence.

Also bowing out of this year’s parade are both the city’s police and fire departments.