By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

OLEAN — The New York Post on Monday printed a story involving Democratic congressional candidate Aaron Gies brother-in-law’s rape conviction of two teens 20 years ago in North Carolina.

Christopher N. White, who was a teacher at the time, served five years in prison before moving to New York where he works for his sister’s veterinary practice in Olean, the Post reported. 

The Post story, written by senior political reporter Carl Campanile, contrasted Gies’ calls for the Oversight Committee, of which Langworthy is a member, to release all the Epstein files with his brother-in-law, a registered sex offender, assisting his campaign.

The Post said White was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of sex offense against two students, ages 15 and 17.

In an interview with the Olean Star Tuesday morning, Gies said White was not a volunteer or otherwise working for his campaign.

“Unfortunately, it’s politics as usual,” Gies said. 

“My family’s history is not a secret from me, and I would hope that members of my extended family who have no direct connection to my campaign would be left out of this race,” Gies said.

“But that is the way that Nick Langworthy and other MAGA politicians feel like races should be run now. I would much rather talk about the concerns of everyday people in New York District 23, Gies said.” 

Gies noted the New York Post had endorsed Langworthy in the last election “despite the fact they pay almost zero attention to this part of the state. Even though the story was sourced to Olean, it’s very hard for me to believe it would have appeared in the New York Post if Mr. Langworthy’s campaign were not somehow involved.”

The Post story said Langworthy unloaded on Geis for bad judgment.

“To bring a convicted sex offender and someone guilty of 2nd degree rape of a minor to campaign events is deeply, deeply disturbing and shows an alarming lack of judgment for any adult, let alone someone seeking public office,” Langworthy told The Post.

“As members of Congress, we have an enormous responsibility to put in place laws that protect victims and children, not put them at risk,” Langworthy added.

In response, Gies emphasized that White is not associated with his campaign. Campaign events are planned around security for all attending, he added.

The Polar plunge event cited by the Post and attended by White “was not an official campaign event that I was in control of, and I did not know everyone on the guest list,” Gies said. “Mr. White is not a volunteer for my campaign. He’s not staff. He does not come to our events on a regular basis.”

The Democratic candidate said he would prefer to emphasize the campaign’s 40-point victory over Kevin Stocker in last month’s Democratic primary and his appeal to independents than deal with the distraction posed by the Post’s story on his brother-in-law.

“I’m just excited to focus on the business of providing the people of New York 23 with responsive, effective representation,” Gies said.