Rockland County Exec: Hate Mail Directed At Legislator Is 'Vile,' 'Despicable'
NEW CITY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Rockland County Executive Ed Day on Friday called a piece of hate mail targeting a county legislator "one of the most vile and despicable renderings" he has ever seen.
CBS2's Lou Young reported exclusively Thursday night on the hate mail sent to county Legislator Aaron Weider (D-Spring Valley.) It featured a shocking image of his face placed on the body of a captive about to be beheaded, in a frame taken from an ISIS terror video.
"The first reaction was with shock. I just didn't know what to do and what to think," Weider said. "I think the picture clearly depicts the message."
Day said Friday that there were no new leads, but the piece of mail was a reprehensible criminal act.
"To make a political point by using imagery depicting ISIS beheading an innocent person shows total disrespect to those victims. To direct this message to an elected official attacks the very core of the freedoms so many have given their lives to secure and protect," Day said in a statement. "I call upon all in Rockland County to condemn this in no uncertain terms. I am hopeful that law enforcement can identify and vigorously prosecute those responsible."
Weider is perhaps the highest-profile Hasidic Jewish leader in the state. He already holds a countywide office, and he recently ran, and narrowly lost, a bid to join the New York State Assembly.
Police said Thursday night that they were anxious to find out who could be behind the apparent threat.
"I take this very seriously," said Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III. "We're looking at it. It's under investigation with ourselves and our joint terrorism task force."
The message was postmarked Saturday, Dec. 13, and arrived in Monday's mail. Weider immediately gave it to the Sheriff.
There was no written component to the message, other than Weider's name translated into Arabic. The writing on the bottom appeared to be from the original ISIS video.
People who have been trying to get the insular ultra-Orthodox sects to open up more worried that the hate mail could be a setback.
"When you have someone sending these things, it may tell other people in the community, you know, take a step back; hide; don't be out there," said Yossi Gestetner of the Orthodox Jewish Public Affairs Council.
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