New York City Fire Department (FDNY) leaders have halted an investigation to determine which firefighters exercised their First Amendment rights and booed New York Attorney General Letitia James at a recent ceremony.

“At no point has there been an investigation into members booing,” an FDNY spokesperson told Fox News Wednesday.

A leaked internal email disclosed in prior reports contradicts there was never prospects of an investigation.

After the ceremony, FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh reportedly said she would ‘hunt down’ the staffers who booed James.

In a letter obtained by the New York Post, FDNY Chief of Department John Hodges wrote the department’s Bureau of Investigation and Trials would investigate and ‘address the behavior.’

The New York Post previously noted:

“BITS is investigating this, so they will figure out who the members are,” Hodges wrote FDNY chiefs Saturday in the letter obtained by The Post.

“I recommend they come forward. I have been told by the commissioner it will be better for them if they come forward and we don’t have to hunt them down,” he continued.

“The [deputy chiefs] shall direct the captain of the company to make a list of those who come forward and send it directly to [FDNY operations]. I realize members might not come forward but they should know that there is clear video of the entire incident and they will be contacted by BITS if they don’t,” he wrote.

A list of talking points for deputy chiefs doing the investigation obtained by The Post said: “We want the members to come forward. They will come to headquarters to be educated why their behavior is unacceptable.”

Conservative commentator DC Draino shared the letter on social media.

“After NY Firefighters exercised their 1st Amdt right to protest corrupt city leaders, a letter was sent saying anyone who booed Letitia James will be sent to HQ for re-‘education’ NYC has become a Marxist h***hole where politics are prosecuted & anyone objecting gets in trouble,” he wrote.

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“The purported persecution fired up current and former members of the department’s rank and file, as well as the public,” Fox News wrote.

“Huge win for New York’s Bravest! The FDNY ends its probe into firefighters’ First Amendment rights after they voiced opinions – including cheers for Donald Trump and boos for AG Letitia James – at a Brooklyn event. Hats off for defending freedom of expression!” America First Policy Institute said.

Per Fox News:

“I think they were making a mountain out of a mole hill,” said Staten Island attorney Louis Gelormino, who along with partner Mark Fonte, of F&G Legal Group, had offered to represent any firefighters under departmental investigation pro bono.

“Let’s put this into perspective: It was a smattering of boos when Letitia James took the stage. It wasn’t a real outpouring. It was a smattering at best. And then it was about 15 or 20 seconds of Trump chants. That’s it.”

The FDNY has already downplayed reports it was hunting anyone to begin with.

“Nobody is hunting anyone down,” FDNY spokesman Jim Long told Fox News Digital in an email Sunday. “We’re looking into those who clearly broke department regulations. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about professionalism at an official event held in a house of worship.”

The department further softened its language Wednesday.

“FDNY leadership is having ongoing conversations with our members about decorum during department events to ensure we are upholding the core values that make the FDNY the greatest fire department in the world,” a spokesperson told Fox News. “Being a NYC firefighter is an honor, and we will continue to impress upon our members that their actions impact everyone who wears the uniform.”

“This victory underscores the fundamental principle that the rights enshrined in our First Amendment are not negotiable,” said Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General and Chair for the Center for Litigation at America First Policy Institute.

“Now, our firefighters can focus on their critical mission of keeping Americans safe, without fear of reprisal or censorship,” Bondi added.

From America First Policy Institute:

New York’s Bravest secure a significant victory as the FDNY announces the end of its investigation into firefighters’ exercise of their First Amendment rights. During Attorney General James’ speech at the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn on March 7, 2024, firefighters expressed their opinions, including chants of support for Donald Trump and boos for Attorney General James. Today, the FDNY agreed that no firefighter will face punishment for exercising their constitutional freedoms.

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