Collins jokes Silver is "anti-Christ"

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Republican Erie County Executive Chris Collins has issued a public apology to New York State Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver, a democrat, over remarks that Collins made this past weekend.

Collins reportedly made references to Silver as another “anti-Christ” also comparing Silver to Hitler. The remarks made at Saturdays’ Erie County Republican dinner at the Adams Mark Hotel.

Erie County Executive Chris Collins has issued this statement:

“Saturday night, I made a poor joke regarding the Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver. I want to extend my sincerest apologies to him for my comments. I have placed a call to the Speaker’s office to offer my apologies directly.

While we may disagree strongly on policy matters, my statement had no place in our political discourse and I am truly sorry to both the Speaker and to anyone else who I may have offended.”