Bolinsky, House, Senate Republicans Call for Ouster of Union Official Over Hamas Comments

House and Senate Republican Leaders on Tuesday urged legislative Democrats and Governor Lamont to join them in demanding the immediate ouster of SEIU Connecticut State Council Executive Director Kooper Caraway over his public remarks in support of terrorists who are responsible for recent atrocities committed against Israeli citizens.

In a letter to the Governor and leaders of the legislature’s Democrat majority caucuses, House and Senate Republican Leaders Vincent Candelora and Kevin Kelly criticized the comments from Caraway, which were featured in a recent Wall Street Journal opinion piece. The two Republican leaders, with state representatives Devin Carney (R-Old Lyme) and Mitch Bolinsky (R-Newtown), stated, “Mr. Caraway’s branding of murderous terrorists Hamas as ‘our comrades’ is offensive to us, our Jewish friends and families, and the House & Senate Republican caucuses. We are certain many of Connecticut’s hard working state employees feel similarly. Aside from the organization’s recent slaughter of innocent, defenseless Israeli citizens, Hamas’ abhorrent views and treatment of women and the LGBTQ+ community are not only indefensible, they are also at odds with messages of tolerance and inclusivity.”

The letter from the four Republican lawmakers, also sent to leaders of the legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee, stated that Caraway’s comments smacked of antisemitism and “have compromised his ability to serve as a representative for state employees who ask your administration and the General Assembly to negotiate with them and consider their many legislative concerns.”