Screenshot / X, Kyle Becker, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

On Friday, Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was confronted by an attendee of the wake of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller, who told her that her presence was unwelcome at the Friday wake for the officer.

The exchange between Hochul and a man attending the wake was captured on video and posted to social media, showing the man getting increasingly animated while talking with the governor. After the exchange, Hochul and her team got back into an SUV and left the wake. As she left, attendees of the wake reportedly began clapping.

A source told the New York Post that a family member of Diller “was going crazy” on Hochul, telling her, “We don’t want you here. You’re not wanted here. You have blood on your hands. If you want to do something, change the bail laws.” 

CBS New York also reported that Hochul’s appearance was received poorly by Diller’s family members, who slammed her record on criminal justice policy. Diller’s widow, who had a 1-year-old son with the officer, also reportedly had a sharp exchange with Hochul. 

“[It looked] like she was telling [Hochul] off,” one witness told the New York Post. “It didn’t look like the widow had a kind word to say.” 

Diller, a husband and father who had served three years on the force, was shot on Monday evening during a traffic stop in Queens. The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Guy Rivera, who was sitting in the passenger seat of the car pulled over by Diller when he allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired at the officer. 

Rivera has 21 prior arrests and was released from prison in 2021 after serving five years for criminal possession of a controlled substance, according to the Post. He was also in prison from 2011 to 2014 for first-degree assault.

Former President Donald Trump also attended a wake for Diller, making an appearance at one that took place on Thursday. A photo of Trump embracing Diller’s widow was posted to social media by Diller’s brother-in-law. 

Earlier this week, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that the suspect in Diller’s death “NEVER should have been let back out on the streets.”

“To Officer Diller’s family, and all of the other brave men and women of law enforcement who put your lives on the line every day, we love you, we appreciate you, and we will always stand with you!” Trump said.

In her eulogy at her husband’s funeral on Saturday, Diller’s widow called his death “devastating” and “senseless” and demanded change, according to the Post.