NEW YORK — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is questioning why state Republicans would have invited the founder of a far-right group to speak in Manhattan and blamed them and President Donald Trump for violent clashes that took place after the speech.

The Democratic governor on Sunday called the invitation to Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes to speak at the Metropolitan Republican Club a political tactic to fire up the Republican base ahead of the midterm elections.

He says he had directed the state police to assist the New York Police Department in a probe of the violence that took place Friday night between the Proud Boys and those protesting the speech. Three people were arrested.

The state Republican Party is calling Cuomo’s comments “outrageous.”

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