Kevin Parker, a state senator in New York, on Tuesday responded to a Republican staffer with "kill yourself" after she exposed him on Twitter for blocking a bike lane with his vehicle last week.
Candice Giove, the deputy communications director for the New York State Senate's Republican majority, responded to a random Twitter user who tweeted last week that a state senator was blocking the bike lane on 2nd Ave. between 43rd and 44th streets in New York City. She responded by calling out Parker for a potential violation.
"I got to the bottom of this. The placard is assigned to @SenatorParker," Giove tweeted. "However, the license plate # on the placard does not match the vehicle. So he either used it in another car or gave it to someone to use, both of which are not permitted."
ICYMI: I got to the bottom of this. The placard is assigned to @SenatorParker. However, the license plate # on the placard does not match the vehicle. So he either used it in another car or gave it to someone to use, both of which are not permitted.
— Candice Giove (@candicegiove) December 18, 2018
Parker, who last month called for a state law requiring law enforcement to examine social media platforms of individuals trying to purchase firearms, responded by saying, "Kill yourself!" before then deleting his tweet.
Things not to tweet when you're a state senator pic.twitter.com/7jQGWhL3nJ
— J. David Goodman (@jdavidgoodman) December 18, 2018
Giove responded by asking, "Did a Senator just write this to me?"
"I sincerely apologize. I used a poor choice of words. Suicide is a serious thing and and should not be made light of," Parker said after deleting his initial response.
I sincerely apologize. I used a poor choice of words. Suicide is a serious thing and and should not be made light of.
— Senator Kevin Parker (@SenatorParker) December 18, 2018
Parker proceeded to send out two tweets attacking Giove for her political leanings, saying she is on the "wrong side of history for every important issue facing New York State!"
. @Candicegiove is on the wrong side of history for every important issue facing New York State!
— Senator Kevin Parker (@SenatorParker) December 18, 2018
"Where was @Candicegiove when NYers voted for a #Democratic State Senate & progressive legislation like the Dream Act & CFE funding? That’s right, working with the #NOIDC appendage of the GOP. #DreamAct #CFEFunding," Parker tweeted.
Where was @Candicegiove when NYers voted for a #Democratic State Senate & progressive legislation like the Dream Act & CFE funding? That’s right, working with the #NOIDC appendage of the GOP. #DreamAct #CFEFunding
— Senator Kevin Parker (@SenatorParker) December 18, 2018
In addition to his tweets, Parker told the New York Daily News that Giove was "nothing, but an internet troll" and that to call her anything else is "fake news."
"Even though I probably used the wrong words, does anyone ask her why she spends her day trolling individual senators instead of trying to get her conference on the right message that is in-line with the values of the people of the state of New York?" Parker said.