Constantino Rants at Media, Orders Reporter From Election Party
At his online sticker company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, New York, Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino declared victory on November 3 even though the results in his race had not been finalized. He was leading Democrat Blake Gendebien in the contest for New York’s 21st Congressional District; one tally put Constantino ahead by two percentage points.
Constantino thanked President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, Rudy Giuliani, who once served as New York City’s mayor, and political adviser Roger Stone. He then sharply criticized the news media, accusing reporters of treating his campaign unfairly and directing profanity and personal insults at several journalists.
During the speech, Constantino singled out 7 News reporter Garrett Domblewski and anchor Jeff Cole, calling them names and ordering Domblewski to leave. The reporter and a cameraman had been invited to the event, and the station had aired part of Constantino’s speech live. Five or six security guards escorted Domblewski from the building as Constantino and people in the crowd chanted against the media.
Domblewski said he did not know why he was told to leave and described an earlier interview with Constantino that evening as cordial. He reported from the parking lot after being removed. Constantino also criticized Gendebien and Robert Smullen, the Republican assemblyman he defeated in the primary, and said he would spend the next two years trying to win over voters who backed his Democratic opponent.
Constantino’s Election-Night Speech Turns Into Attack on Press
A Republican congressional candidate responded to an unresolved election-night race by directing profanity and personal attacks at journalists, then having a television reporter removed from his party. Anthony Constantino was leading Democrat Blake Gendebien in New York’s 21st District, but the count was not final.
At his company headquarters in Amsterdam on November 3, Constantino blamed what he called the “evil media” for his campaign’s difficulties. He insulted several reporters and singled out 7 News reporter Garrett Domblewski and anchor Jeff Cole. Constantino ordered Domblewski out, and five or six security guards escorted the reporter from the building while the crowd joined in anti-media chants.
The station had been invited to the event, knew its crew was coming and aired part of Constantino’s speech live. Domblewski said his earlier interview with Constantino that evening had been cordial and that he did not know why he was ordered to leave. He later reported from the parking lot.
The episode put the treatment of journalists at the center of Constantino’s election-night appearance. His attacks also targeted Gendebien and Robert Smullen, whom Constantino defeated in the Republican primary. Constantino said he would try to win over voters who chose his opponent, but his conduct toward reporters offered a stark counterpoint to that appeal.
Constantino Gives Voice to Voter Anger at the Media
Anthony Constantino’s election-night speech was an unmistakable display of anger at the media, which he accused of unfairly covering his campaign. The Republican was leading Democrat Blake Gendebien in New York’s 21st Congressional District, though the outcome remained undecided.
At his company headquarters in Amsterdam on November 3, Constantino thanked President Donald Trump and other political allies before turning his attention to reporters. He used profanity and personal insults, singled out 7 News reporter Garrett Domblewski and anchor Jeff Cole, and ordered Domblewski to leave. Security guards escorted the reporter out as people in the crowd chanted against the media.
The station had been invited to the party and had aired part of Constantino’s speech live. Domblewski said an interview with Constantino earlier that evening had been cordial and that he was unsure what prompted the order. He continued reporting from the parking lot.
Constantino’s outburst was a blunt, confrontational expression of his distrust of journalists; it also risked overshadowing his appeal to voters. He attacked his Democratic opponent and the Republican he beat in the primary, while telling Gendebien’s supporters he would try to win them over. The unresolved race means his election-night declaration was not yet a settled result.
Reported by Talking Points Memo, Atlanta News First.
