NEW YORK (PIX11) -- Mazi Pilip, the Republican nominee in the closely watched special election to replace disgraced Congressman George Santos, said Tuesday she would not support former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race if he is convicted of a crime.
Pilip, a Nassau County legislator, made the comment during a special forum, "PIX on Politics: Pilip vs. Suozzi – Replacing Santos." The exclusive forum offered voters in New York's 3rd Congressional District the most in-depth interviews with Pilip and her Democratic opponent, Tom Suozzi, before early voting begins on Feb. 3. The special election will be held on Feb. 13.
“Nobody is above the law,” Pilip said. “If he [is] convicted of a crime, he cannot represent us. Unless we see that, right now, if he is the candidate, I will support him. He was a great candidate, a great president. He did great things for America. He improved our economy. He brought a lot of peace process in the Middle East. He was very strong on the international level. I can tell you the one thing I didn’t agree with him, he took away the SALT deduction from New Yorkers.”
Pilip went on to clarify under questioning from PIX11's Dan Mannarino:
“Right now, he is going through the [legal] process, we have to give him the opportunity to prove [to] us he’s innocent.”
Pilip’s comments are a notable break from many Republicans, who have followed Trump’s lead in dismissing the several criminal cases against him as a “witch hunt.”
Trump is facing at least four criminal trials in the coming year:
- Federal felony charges alleging interference in the 2020 election and the subsequent assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
- Federal felony charges alleging mishandling classified documents.
- Georgia criminal charges alleging election interference.
- Manhattan criminal charges alleging falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments to cover up extramarital affairs.
Suozzi, the former Democratic congressman who previously represented NY-3 for six years, is also dealing with concerns over his party’s leader: President Joe Biden.
A PIX11/Emerson College poll shows Biden is very unpopular in the district, having just a 33% approval rating. Suozzi has said he does not expect Biden to campaign for him.
“Former President Trump’s numbers are just as bad,” Suozzi said during the PIX11 Forum Tuesday night. “They’re both very very unpopular in my district. People are sick and tired of the politics, they’re not happy with either of the two candidates at the presidential level.”
Suozzi went on to attack his opponent, calling the NY-3 special election a “local race." He argued he is willing to be more present in the community and has more detailed plans than Pilip.