Hakeem Jeffries Using Wall Street Money to Try to Buy Election while Hiding Himself from Voters, Says Fellow Candidate

Colin Beavan

As Brooklyn Congressional candidate Hakeem Jeffries (D) declines yet another opportunity to appear in a live debate before voters, fellow candidate Colin Beavan (Green) has raised grave concerns about Mr. Jeffries’ choice to put fundraising from Wall Street before speaking to Brooklyn voters. Mr. Jeffries has so far refused all but a single opportunity to appear in a live debate before citizens but has raised nearly $750,000, much of it from investment bankers and corporate lawyers. The June 20 debate he has declined to participate in is the final one before the Democratic primary six days later.

“Mr. Jeffries is attempting to use money contributed by Wall Street bankers and their lawyers to buy himself a Congressional seat through advertising while hiding himself from voters. It suggests his loyalty goes more to the people who pay for his ads than the voters he hopes to represent. This is exactly how traditional party politicians created the crisis in our country’s democracy,” said Beavan.

The United Community Centers and Brooklyn for Peace invited all four candidates in Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional District to East New York for the June 20 debate without input from any of the campaigns. Yesterday Mr. Beavan’s campaign learned from the debate organizers that Mr. Jeffries has chosen not to appear and will apparently send a “proxy” to answer questions on his behalf.

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