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The 38-year-old Lawler darkened his skin and dressed up as Michael Jackson for Halloween while he was a sophomore at the now Manhattan University in 2006, photos obtained by the outlet show.
In a statement to the New York Times, Lawler said the costume was meant to be “truly the sincerest form of flattery, a genuine homage to my musical hero since I was a little kid trying to moonwalk through my mom’s kitchen.”
He went on to say that “the ugly practice of blackface was the furthest thing from my mind,” and “Let me be clear, this was not that.”
“I am a student of history and for anyone who takes offense to the photo, I am sorry,” Lawler told the outlet. “All you can do is live and learn.”
Lawler’s 17th District represents all of Rockland and Putnam counties, most of Northern Westchester, and portions of southern Dutchess County.
The seat, which he narrowly won against Democratic incumbent and DCCC chair Sean Patrick Maloney in 2022, is considered a swing district that could determine control of the House, according to The Cook Political Report.
Lawler is facing Democrat and former congressman Mondaire Jones, who is Black. Jones had not publicly responded to the scandal as of Thursday afternoon, Oct. 3.
Prior to serving in Congress, Lawler was a member of the New York State Assembly from 2021 to 2022, representing the 97th district in Rockland County.
He previously worked in the Westchester County Executive's Office as an advisor to Rob Astorino and executive director of the New York State Republican Party.
Lawler also served as deputy town supervisor of Orangetown.
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