August 1, 2018
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Tom Reed has issued the following statement:
Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23) hammered Governor Andrew Cuomo for his decision to pardon and restore voting rights to more than 24 thousand felons – including 77 sex offenders deemed too dangerous to release back into society.
“We will call out extreme and radical policies when we see them,” Tom said. “We should hold these convicted and dangerous people fully accountable for their acts. To allow sex offenders into our schools with children is downright dangerous.”
A current carve-out in the state’s criminal trespass laws allows sex offenders to enter a school for the specific purpose of voting. A fact sheet from the New York School Boards Association explains New York’s sex offenders are eligible to vote at a school if they’re no longer on parole, probation or conditional discharge.
“We are drafting legislation to ensure our children’s well-being following this new and extreme sex offender policy,” Tom said. “Children should not fear about having contact with sex offenders, and extreme policies allowing this to occur must be defeated,” Reed concluded.
