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New York's 21st Congressional District includes all of Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Hamilton, Essex, Warren, Washington and Fulton counties and parts of Saratoga and Herkimer counties.0000017a-3c50-d913-abfe-bd54a8740000The incumbent is Elise Stefanik (R-Willsboro). Stefanik was first elected in 2014 -- in which she made history by becoming the youngest woman in the House -- by defeating Democrat Aaron Woolf 53-32 percent.Other declared candidates in the 2016 race for the seat include Mike Derrick (D), retired Army colonel; and Matt Funiciello (G).

Democrats criticize NY-21 Green Party candidate for remarks about 9/11

David Sommerstein/NCPR
Matt Funiciello, Green Party candidate for the 21st Congressional District seat.

The green party candidate for Congress in the North Country's 21st district, Matt Funiciello, is coming under fire for his opinions on the September 11 terrorist attacks. Earlier this week, it was reported that Funiciello has questioned whether or not the U.S. government has told the truth about why the World Trade Center was destroy and Pentagon was damaged.

In an interview, Funiciello told North Country Public Radio, “I’m definitely as an American in no way satisfied with the official story that we’ve been told over and over again about the three towers that came down and the subsequent damage on 9/11.”

Wednesday, in a conference call with reporters, the Democrat in the race, Aaron Wolf, criticized Funiciello for his statements.

“I think it’s incredibly offensive that anybody would allege that our government would have a hand in detonating those buildings. Just on a purely personal level, I find that extremely troubling and offensive. On a political level, I’m not sure why it would ever be wise to espouse that if you did. I think it’s an incredibly outrageous allegation,” said Woolf.

In the same conference call, Rep. Bill Owens, the Democrat who is retiring from the district’s seat, went even further, saying Funiciello’s remarks raise questions about his ability to serve.

“I think that those kinds of thoughts and his expression of his opinion was totally outrageous, offensive, and in my view, disqualifies him from having anything to do with foreign affairs, which he would have as a member of Congress,” said Owens.

The controversy came out in the middle of what has been a hotly contested congressional race. Last week, a Siena Poll found 10 percent of voters support Funiciello, a high number for a third party candidate. Woolf received support from 33 percent of those polled. And the poll found that 46 percent say they would vote for Elise Stefanik, the Republican in the race.

Funiciello is a baker and businessman from Glens Falls.