Tedisco calls for Geithner resignation; asks Murphy to do the same

Republican candidate for Congress James Tedisco joined several would-be House Republican colleagues Thursday by calling on Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to resign.

“I believe that, in the best interests of our country, Secretary Geithner should tender his resignation,” Tedisco said in a statement. “We need a Treasury Secretary whose first priority will be protecting and fighting for the economic interests of Main Street, not defending the inexcusable actions of AIG.”

Tedisco joins at least two lawmakers, Reps. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) and Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who have called for Geithner to step aside as Treasury Secretary. Tedisco is locked in a tense special election with Democrat Scott Murphy to fill Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) former House seat.

“In the interest of bi-partisanship, I am asking Scott Murphy to join me in calling for a new direction in leadership at the Treasury Department,” Tedisco added, trying to corner his opponent into doing what no other Democratic lawmaker has done.

“The American people are mad as hell over the way AIG, Wall Street and Washington have broken their promises and betrayed their trust,” Tedisco added. “We need to restore that trust by defending taxpayer dollars against the reckless abuse of companies such as AIG.”