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Assemblyman McLaughlin apologizes for comparing Cuomo to Hitler

Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, R-Melrose, has apologized for comparing Gov. Andrew Cuomo with Adolf Hitler.

A handful of state legislator, including McLaughlin, gathered this morning to decry the passage of the Cuomo's SAFE ACT. During that conference, McLaughlin said Hitler and other dictators would have been pleased with the law and the way it was passed.

He has backed off those comments in a video available below.

McLaughlin's remarks drew almost instant backlash, including a strong rebuke from Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, who is a Jew.

In his video, McLaughlin said his remarks were born of the heat of the moment. "I let my passion overcome me and made an insensitive remark that has overshadowed a serious matter regarding democracy in New York State." he said "I used a poor analogy and have called Governor Cuomo to apologize."

But McLaughlin isn't sorry about his critique of the gun control legislation and the way it was passed, with only a few hours of debate. To prevent bills from being rushed into law in the future, he has teamed with other Republican state legislators to advance the Government Transparency Act," which he says is designed to ensure a meaningful debate on issues.

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