Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) had an awkward moment during a debate on Thursday, trying to leave after being asked a tough question before the moderator instructed him to return to his seat.
As Capitol Whip reported, "Oh wow. Mike Lawler got so rattled when Cait Conley accurately called him out on his SALT deduction lie that he tried to get up and leave before being told by the forum moderator to sit down and calm down."
They added, "Oh, and the crowd laughed at him, too."
In the video shared by the site on X, Lawler says he put "a $4,000 tax refund in your pocket this past April." His Democratic challenger, Cait Conley, replied "And that would have also happened if you did nothing."
Lawler insisted, "No, it wouldn’t have happened."
The moderator then said, "Thank you both. Thank you both. [crosstalk] Thank you. We’re going to calm down."
This is not the first time Lawler has had a very public and awkward moment while campaigning for reelection. In July he confessed that as a young man he was arrested for driving while driving.
"I ultimately went down to the city and proceeded to drink, made a decision to drive home," he told Newsweek. Lawler then admitted he was "deeply disappointed" in himself and described the incident as "one of the worst decisions" of his life. He also said that he was mortified to admit what had happened to his father, a recovering alcoholic who he said was deeply disappointed in him.
Afterward, he wrote on Facebook that people should avoid substance abuse while operating a vehicle.
"If you’ve been drinking or using drugs, don’t drive," Lawler wrote. "If someone else has, don’t get in the car with them. Call a friend. Call a parent. Use a rideshare. Find another way home."
Lawler also attracted scrutiny in August for his handling of a response to a question about his colleague, Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), who was accused of domestic violence against his wife and infant child.
"Look, this is a private family matter that unfortunately has spilled out into the public," Lawler told CNN host Dana Bash. "It should be adjudicated in family court. Max has been accused. Max has also made accusations against his ex-wife. It is tragic. And obviously I don't condone any level of abuse. But ultimately, there's been nothing that has been corroborated here, which is part of the reason why Max is continuing to run for reelection."
