KINGSTON, N.Y. — A Northwestern New York sheriff who grew up in Kingston and is running for governor recently penned a letter in support of a 71-year-old man convicted for his role in storming the Capitol last January.
Lewis County Sheriff Mike Carpinelli, who on his campaign website described himself as “President Trump’s favorite sheriff in New York State,” is seeking the Republican line on the November ballot.
The Lowville resident joins four other Republicans who have announced their candidacy are: U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, podcast host Derrick Gibson, and Andrew Guiliani, former New York City Mayor Rudy Guiliani’s son.
According to his campaign website, Carpinelli, 56, is a 1983 graduate of Kingston High School who served from 1983 to 1991 in the U.S. Army Reserve. In 1986, Carpinelli began his law enforcement career in Kingston. According to the New York Sheriff’s Association, he majored in Criminal Justice at Ulster County Community College; attended the Kingston Police Academy MPTC school in 1985 and has also served as a police officer for the towns of Lloyd, New Paltz and Ulster.
In 1992, Carpinelli joined the Rochester City Police Department and is currently serving his third four-year term as Lewis County sheriff.
Carpinelli said on his website that he got involved in politics after the Feb. 2013 adoption of the New York State Safe Act in February of 2013. In June 2013, Carpinelli spoke at a “Repeal the Safe Act” rally held on the west lawn of the New York State Capital.
According to Watertown Times, Carpinelli recently penned a letter to a federal judge asking for leniency for William Tryon, who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol, writing:
“I am writing this correspondence on behalf of my good friend, William Tryon. Bill and I have known each other since 2016 and have remained a closed relationship in family and our love of country. Sir, I know Bill is remorseful for his actions on January the 6th at the Capital. I do believe and standby Bill’s good character and love of his family. This is why I will put my title and reputation alongside my friend, William Tryon. Thank you.”
According to the Watertown Times, he signed the letter “Sheriff M.P. Carpinelli” with “Sheriff Carpinelli” typed below the signature.
Tryon, 71, pleaded guilty in October to the misdemeanor charge of entering a restricted building on Capitol He submitted Carpnelli’s letter, along with six dozen other character letters from friends and community members of the community in a bid for leniency. On Friday, Tryon was sentenced to 50 days in jail and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
Carpinelli is now facing an inquiry by the Lewis County Ethics Board for violating his department’s policy, which, according to the Watertown Times, states: “Members and employees of the Sheriff’s Department shall not use official Department letterheads for personal or unofficial correspondence.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul, U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams are seeking the Democratic line in the November election.
