Earlier this week, the New York Post obtained a copy of a memo issued in late July by a consultant for the re-election campaign of Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY), warning staffers to stay safe because the family of the Democratic challenger, assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, is "thuggish" and full of criminals.

The memo instructed Tenney's staffers to "not go out at night alone" and "beware of strange cars," because "Brindisi’s family has used their political connections to get away with violence, intimidation and thuggish behavior for years. As the Brindisi family watches Anthony's political career end, they may return to what they know—violence and intimidation." The memo also noted that Brindisi's father, a former attorney who pleaded guilty to a drug charge, has represented organized crime figures. Given that Brindisi is of Italian descent, the memo is seen by many as a dog whistle. "Claudia Tenney's false attack on Anthony's family and heritage is sadly no surprise to us," said Brindisi campaign manager Ellen Foster.