Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) faced scrutiny Thursday after appearing to feign a phone call to avoid answering questions about the recent riots in Los Angeles.

The incident occurred outside the U.S. Capitol and was captured on video by a member of the public.

Suozzi, who represents a Long Island district carried by President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, has remained publicly silent about the violent unrest in downtown Los Angeles.

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The riots broke out following a series of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and have included widespread vandalism and clashes with law enforcement.

In the video obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation, Suozzi is seen holding his phone to his ear while claiming, “Sorry, hold on, I got a call coming through,” just moments before being asked about the Los Angeles riots.

However, a screenshot shows that the iMessage application, not a phone call interface, was open on the screen of Suozzi’s device.

The individual filming then asked Suozzi, “What do Democrats mean when they say the riots in LA are peaceful?”

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Suozzi did not respond directly. Instead, he continued the apparent act, saying “hello,” “yes,” and “yeah,” into the phone while avoiding the question.

When pressed with a second question—“Do you consider throwing rocks at a moving car to be a peaceful act?”—Suozzi replied, “Sorry — I’m on the phone,” before walking away.

The video quickly circulated online and was amplified by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which labeled the incident as a deliberate attempt by Suozzi to avoid taking a position on the violence occurring in Los Angeles.

“Two-faced Tom Suozzi calls himself a ‘commonsense Democrat,’ but when asked about violent riots, he cowardly fakes a phone call instead of standing up for law and order,” said NRCC spokesperson Maureen O’Toole in a statement.

“It’s not just weak, it’s disgraceful. Suozzi’s refusal to condemn chaos shows he’s fully captured by the radical left.”

O’Toole added, “He won’t be able to fake his way out of this one — his free fall back home is just getting started.”

The exchange comes amid growing division among congressional Democrats on how to respond to the riots.

While some lawmakers have condemned the violence, others have avoided the issue or offered defenses of the protestors.

On Wednesday, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said during a press conference that self-driving vehicles burned by protestors were simply “caught in the exuberance of the moment.”

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who represents parts of Los Angeles affected by the riots, has continued to insist that “no violence” has occurred in the city.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who also serves in the New York delegation, has doubled down on calls to abolish ICE and suggested that Democrats should not be pressured to condemn acts of violence associated with protest movements.

Suozzi has branded himself as a moderate and serves as co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.

He has previously supported Republican-backed measures, including the repeal of California’s electric vehicle mandate and the Laken Riley Act, which strengthens penalties for crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

Despite his efforts to present a centrist image, Suozzi’s reluctance to address the Los Angeles unrest has drawn criticism from Republicans and could prove politically damaging in his competitive district.

The NRCC has named Suozzi as one of its top targets heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

As of Friday, Suozzi’s office has not issued a statement addressing the video or his position on the Los Angeles riots.

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