HIT: Mike Siegel is endorsed by extreme organizations that want to defund the police. Siegel also supports eliminating private prisons and ending cash bail, which could allow criminal defendants to be released into our communities before their trial and potential incarceration.

BACKUP:

Siegel is endorsed by the Working Families Party, an extreme organization that also endorsed and Ilhan Omar, and supports defunding the police:

• The Working Families Party is a “progressive grassroots political party building a multiracial movement of working people to transform America.” “The Working Families Party is a progressive grassroots political party building a multiracial movement of working people to transform America.” (“About Us,” Working Families, Accessed 8/30/20)

• In January 2020, Siegel was endorsed by the Working Families Party.

(“Mike Siegel,” Twitter, 1/31/20)

• Siegel is also listed as an endorsement on the Working Families Party website.

(“Our 2020 Endorsements,” Working Families, Accessed 8/30/20)

• In 2020, the Working Families Party endorsed Bernie Sanders for President.

(“Our 2020 Endorsements,” Working Families, Archived 8/13/20)

o The Working Families Party currently endorses for President.

(“Our 2020 Endorsements,” Working Families, Accessed 8/30/20)

o When the Working Families Party endorsed Bernie Sanders in 2016, Sanders called the party “the closest thing there is to a political party that believes in my vision of democratic socialism.” “Bernie Sanders once said of the Working Families Party, which ardently supported his 2016 presidential run, that it ‘is the closest thing there is to a political party that believes in my vision of democratic socialism. The WFP shares my view of a society and an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected.’” (John Nichols, “The Working Families Party Says It’s Time to Get Off the Sidelines and Back Sanders,” The Nation, 3/9/20)

o In 2020, the Working Families Party initially supported for president before she dropped out. “Yet, as the 2020 Democratic presidential contest ramped up, the labor-left organization that advocates for progressive Democratic politics as ‘a grassroots, multiracial party of working people’ in and a dozen other states across the country did not endorse Sanders. Last September, it backed Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, arguing that its members and allies liked Sanders but saw Warren as the stronger progressive prospect. Now, Warren has quit the race and Sanders remains the last best hope to prevent the nomination of a centrist whose politics are, to say the least, not those of the Working Families Party. So the WFP is endorsing Sanders with a message that matters not just for individual campaigns but for the progressive movement.” (John Nichols, “The Working Families Party Says It’s Time to Get Off the Sidelines and Back Sanders,” The Nation, 3/9/20)

• The Working Families Party also currently endorses Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib, (D-MI), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA).

(“Our 2020 Endorsements,” Working Families, Accessed 8/30/20)

• The Working Families Party supports defunding the police.

(“Working Families Party,” Twitter, 5/31/20)

Siegel is endorsed by MoveOn, a “pillar of the Resistance movement” that supports defunding the police:

• Siegel is endorsed by MoveOn.

(“Mike Siegel,” MoveOn, Accessed 8/31/20)

• In 2018, Siegel was endorsed by MoveOn.

(“MoveOn,” Twitter, 6/23/18)

• MoveOn is a “pillar of the Resistance movement.” “Since the 2016 election, we have been a pillar of the Resistance movement working to limit the harm caused by Trump and the GOP, while laying the groundwork for progress.” (“A Short History of MoveOn,” MoveOn, Accessed 8/30/20)

• MoveOn supports defunding the police. “Police continue to hunt down Black folks in cities across America, and we refuse to sit silent. It was not too long ago we heard Eric Garner utter the same last words, ‘I can’t breathe.’ And just months ago, officers stormed Breonna Taylor’s house and murdered her in her own home. We stand in solidarity with calls to Defund the Police and with the entire Movement for Black Lives.” (“MoveOn Campaigns,” MoveOn, Accessed 8/30/20)

Siegel is endorsed by Indivisible Austin, a progressive resistance organization that also supports defunding the police:

• Siegel is endorsed by Indivisible Austin.

(“Indivisible Austin,” Twitter, 8/28/20)

• In 2018, Siegel was endorsed by Indivisible Austin.

(“Endorsement: Mike Siegel for U.S. House District 10,” Indivisible Austin, 9/16/18)

• Indivisible is a progressive grassroots network of local groups that seeks to “resist the Trump Agenda.” “Our mission is to fuel a progressive grassroots network of local groups to resist the Trump Agenda. In every congressional district in the country, people like you are starting local groups and leading local actions. Are you standing indivisible with us? Then sign up for weekly actions and updates.” (“Indivisible,” Vision for America, Accessed 8/30/20)

• Indivisible is a progressive resistance organization. “Indivisible was founded in response to Trump’s election - but we know that Trump is a symptom of a sick democracy, not its cause. We face two fundamental problems: first, our democracy was rigged from the start in favor of the white and wealthy. Second, in the last few decades, an alliance of white nationalists and the ultra-rich have been actively working to further undermine democracy and cement their hold on power permanently. That’s how we ended up with Trump. To achieve a real democracy, we’re working to stop the Trump agenda and to defeat Trump and his enablers, but we can’t stop there. We have to defeat the forces that allowed him to rise. We have to build a democracy that reflects a broad, multiracial “we the people,” one that works for all of us and is sustained by all of us. Only then will we be able to achieve a progressive vision for our future.” (“About Us,” Indivisible, Accessed 8/30/20)

• Indivisible supports defunding the police.

(“Indivisible Guide,” Twitter, 5/31/20)

Siegel wants to eliminate private prisons:

• In October 2019, Siegel tweeted that private prisons should be abolished, saying “there should not be an incentive to increase human misery.”

(“Mike Siegel,” Twitter, 10/2/19)

• On his website, Siegel says he supports banning private prisons. “As your next Congressperson, I will fight for a criminal justice reform agenda, including the work to: End cash bail, Abolish the death penalty, Ban private prisons.” (“Criminal Justice Reform,” Siegel for , Accessed 8/30/20)

Siegel supports ending cash bail, a criminal release policy that has led to an increase in violent crime since it was implemented in New York:

• On his website, Siegel says he supports ending cash bail. “As your next Congressperson, I will fight for a criminal justice reform agenda, including the work to: End cash bail, Abolish the death penalty, Ban private prisons.” (“Criminal Justice Reform,” Siegel for Texas, Accessed 8/30/20)

o Siegel supports eliminating cash bail.

(“Mike Siegel,” Twitter, 3/6/19)

• The bail reform law in New York affects people charged for nonviolent crimes who sat in jail for extended periods of time because they couldn’t afford bail. “The 2019-20 state budget included a few major criminal justice reforms, including ending cash bail for most misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenses. The changes were supported by Democratic lawmakers who sought to address flaws with bail, specifically people accused of low-level offenses who sat in jail for extended periods because they couldn't afford bail.” (Robert Harding, “CNY Democrats for Congress respond to bail reform ad: Katko promoting fear,” Auburn Pub, 2/6/20)

• The bail reform law allowed a serial bank robber to be freed. “Left high and dry by the state’s new bail reform law, the NYPD was forced to ask the feds to help them reign in the Big Apple’s six-time serial bank bandit for good, sources told The Post Saturday. When prime suspect Gerod Woodberry was arrested in connection to four bank robberies Jan. 9, and then let go, free to allegedly knock over two more — frustrated cops realized they had to call in the cavalry.” (Cohen, Celona, Weissmann, and Moore, “Ridiculous reform forces NYPD to ask feds to catch serial NYC bank robber,” NY Post, 1/18/20)

o The bank robber was considered a non-violent prisoner, so he was set free to even his surprise. “Under the new reforms, which took hold Jan. 1, Woodberry, 42, is considered a non-violent defendant because he allegedly used notes to demand dough from banks in and Manhattan. State law forbids judges from setting any bail for him under the new law… Woodberry had expressed amazement after he was released without bail after the fourth cash grab, saying as he retrieved his belongings from a clerk police headquarters, ‘I can’t believe they let me out,’ sources told The Post.” (Cohen, Celona, Weissmann, and Moore, “Ridiculous reform forces NYPD to ask feds to catch serial NYC bank robber,” NY Post, 1/18/20)

• A man charged with rape was freed by the bail reform law. “Exactly as legislators intended, New York’s new no-bail law led to Arjun Tyler’s release from jail in December — just weeks before he was arrested for allegedly trying to rape a woman in a Brooklyn subway bathroom.” (NY Post Editorial Board, Op-Ed, “Man freed thanks to bail reform, then busted in rape, shows what lawmakers got wrong,” NY Post, 2/3/20)

• The bail reform law freed suspects accused of burglary, robbery, and grand larceny. “But according to police and court records, suspects —⁠ including for crimes that are up this year —⁠ continue to be freed without bail. Alleged serial burglar Otto Friedman, 25, who is charged with pulling off six Manhattan burglaries in Lower Manhattan last month, was released without bail on Sunday, according to court records. Trevor McGovern, 36, who was charged with robbery and grand larceny for allegedly stealing $8,000 from his girlfriend after a Valentine’s Day spat, walked out of court without bail last week. Also last week a 40- year-old Staten Island man, Francis Grady, was released without bail after being charged with felony robbery for an alleged bank heist at a TD Bank branch in the borough.” (Tina Moore and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon, “NYPD stats show notable jump in crime so far this year,” NY Post, 3/2/20)

• Police officers have pointed to bail reform as a reason for an increase in robberies, assaults and grand larcenies across . “Some NYPD officials have pointed to repeat offenders out on bail as one of multiple reasons for a jump in robberies, assaults and grand larcenies across the city.” (Johnathan Dienst and Jon Schuppe, “As City Sees Uptick in Crime, NYC Mayor Calls for Bail Reform Adjustment.” NBC New York, 2/5/20)