Republican Joe Mastroianni, who is running for a seat in the New York State Assembly, has found himself in big trouble. He is accused of stealing a campaign mailer, and there’s video footage from a Ring camera that seems to show him doing it. Now, stealing mail is a federal crime, and Mastroianni is refusing to talk about it.
In the video, which was shared by Frank Salamone, the chairman of the Schenectady County Democratic Committee, Mastroianni can be seen walking onto someone’s porch with a woman. He then allegedly takes the campaign mailer sent by his opponent, Democratic Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, folds it up, and puts it in his pocket. To make things even worse, Mastroianni seems to be laughing as he does it. Not the best look for someone who wants to be in public office.
When asked about the video, Mastroianni said, “I will not comment on this specific story.” That’s not exactly the response people were hoping for, especially since the video looks pretty clear. When WRGB Channel 6 asked if it was him in the video, Mastroianni didn’t answer the question and instead complained about what he called “hit journalism.”
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This whole situation sounds like something out of a bad movie. A politician caught on camera stealing a mailer? It’s almost too ridiculous to believe, but here we are. And what makes it even more concerning is that Mastroianni hasn’t denied it. He’s just refusing to talk about it.
Let’s not forget, stealing mail is serious business. It’s a federal offense, and people who do it can end up in prison. According to WRGB, “Mail theft is a federal crime with serious consequences.” So, this isn’t just some small mistake—this could have major legal consequences for Mastroianni.
But what does this say about him as a candidate? If someone running for office thinks it’s okay to take a campaign mailer, what else are they willing to do? It’s a question voters in New York need to think about. After all, if Mastroianni can’t even be trusted to respect someone’s mail, how can he be trusted to represent them in the Assembly?
Sadly, this kind of behavior has become more common in Republican politics, especially during the Trump era. Trump himself was caught in all kinds of scandals, from lying about the election to mishandling important documents. It’s almost like some Republicans think they can do whatever they want and get away with it. Mastroianni seems to be following that same pattern: deny, distract, and avoid responsibility.
The real issue here is trust. Voters want leaders they can rely on, people who have integrity and won’t break the law. But Mastroianni’s actions raise serious doubts about his character. If he’s willing to steal a campaign mailer, what else might he do Mastroianni’s refusal to talk about the video only makes things worse. He’s leaving voters with more questions than answers, and that’s not what people want in a candidate.
Featured image via Screengrab
