The recent shooting in South Bend, Indiana has turned into a political nightmare for Democrat Pete Buttigieg.
In addition to facing protesters and angry residents, the police union is now accusing him of using the situation for political gain.
FOX News reports:
South Bend police union slams Buttigieg over response to police shooting of black man
The South Bend, Indiana police union is accusing the city’s mayor and Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg of making decisions on an officer-involved fatal shooting “solely for his political gain.”
The charge from the South Bend Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #36 comes as Buttigieg – who’s soared from a long-shot to a top-tier contender for the Democratic nomination – is facing the first serious test of his presidential campaign.
The union spoke out on Monday night after Buttigieg supported a call for a special prosecutor to investigate the fatal shooting June 16 of a black man by a white police officer. Their move also comes after Buttigieg said he would contact the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to request an independent investigation.
In a blistering statement on Monday night, the union claimed that “Mayor Buttigieg’s focus on this incident is solely for his political gain and not the health of the city he serves.”
“Mayor Buttigieg’s comments have already and will continue to have a detrimental effect on local law enforcement offices and law enforcement officers nationwide. Mayor Buttigieg’s comments and actions are driving a wedge between law enforcement officers and the community they took an oath to serve.”
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As if that wasn’t bad enough, at least one local official is calling for Buttigieg to resign.
The Washington Free Beacon reports:
Former Common Council President to Mayor Pete: ‘Resign’
After the fallout from a recent police shooting unleashed turmoil on South Bend, former Common Council president Derek Dieter has a message for Mayor Pete Buttigieg: “resign.”
“Because of Pete’s selfishness, in my opinion, he is still the mayor,” Dieter told the Washington Free Beacon. Dieter explained that if Buttigieg were to resign, a provisional mayor would be chosen in a caucus by city precinct leaders. A new mayor, Dieter said, would be able to devote greater attention to South Bend than Buttigieg as he is running for president.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense. If you’re running for president, that’s a lot of pressure, you got to be on the road,” Dieter said. “Everything that happens in South Bend shouldn’t be on your mind. You should be concentrating on running for president. So, I’m adamant that he should resign as mayor.”
If this controversy gets worse and becomes a liability for Democrats, don’t be surprised if they cast him aside.
Just like they did with Beto O’Rourke.
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