A MAGA congressman's attempt to flip a sexual assault question onto his opponent blew up in his face at a heated debate.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) faced off with Democratic challenger Cait Conley on Wednesday night in a debate for New York's 17th congressional district hosted by PIX11's Dan Mannarino, Mediaite reported. When Lawler pivoted to attacking Conley over money she took from former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, she cut him off and told him to "sit over there."
The exchange began with a question about whether there should be a federal definition of consent, prompted by allegations that seven Cornell University fraternity members sexually assaulted a female student in 2024. Conley used her answer to criticize Lawler for failing to call out Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), whose ex-wife Emily Moreno has accused him of physical abuse.
"My opponent defended Max Miller and blamed the abuse on his ex-wife," Conley said.
"First of all, I did not blame Emily," Lawler responded. "I know both of them. It's very tragic, and it should be dealt with in family court."
He then fired back, "You're the one who took money from Eliot Spitzer," referring to the former Democratic governor who resigned in 2008 after he was found to have used a prostitution ring.
"Do you think what Eliot Spitzer did, trafficking young women for the purpose of prostitution across state lines, violating the Mann Act, was appropriate?" Lawler asked.
As Mannarino tried to step in, Conley shut Lawler down. "I do not need you to mansplain to me what domestic abuse and sexual assault against women are, and the appropriate response," she said. "Don't start. Sit over there."
Lawler pressed on. "Sexual assault is a real thing," he said. "As a father of two young daughters, I don't even want to see a young woman abused. Period."
The moment quickly spread across social media after Democratic super PAC American Bridge 21st Century posted the clip, writing that Conley "immediately DESTROYS him."
"Cait Conley puts Mike Lawler in his place," FactPost wrote. Author and activist Hemant Mehta reacted, "Oh d—."
Political strategist Ceara Gilmartin-Donohue wrote that Conley "was absolutely right to say 'Don't start, sit over there' to that little menace of a man."
Others couldn't resist a jab at the congressman's height. "She thought he was sitting because there's no way he was that short and standing," writer and political strategist Liz Charboneau quipped.
"Sit over there."Mike Lawler tries to mansplain consent and domestic abuse to Cait Conley, who immediately DESTROYS him. #NY17 https://t.co/eF0Z0QxZX2
— American Bridge 21st Century (@American_Bridge) October 14, 2026