Rep. Espaillat's Office Vandalized Amid Protests

Rep. Adriano Espaillat's Washington Heights office was vandalized early Tuesday morning, marking the second attack in less than a month. Surveillance footage captured two masked individuals using a hammer to smash the glass door and spray-painting messages such as 'Free Gaza' on the facade. The vandalism coincided with city-wide demonstrations commemorating the one-year anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, with Espaillat being a vocal supporter of Israeli hostages' return. Espaillat expressed dismay at the violence, noting that his name had appeared on protest flyers preceding the attack. The New York Democratic congressional delegation, including prominent figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hakeem Jeffries, condemned the recurring acts of vandalism as dangerous and disruptive. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating both incidents, but no arrests have been made to date.