Assemblyman Phil Steck is firing back at Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who called him a “hypocrite” for endorsing his opponent in the Democratic primary.

On Thursday, Steck endorsed defense attorney Lee Kindlon. Steck has called on Soares to step down after news surfaced that he gave himself a $20,000 bonus using grant money. Soares has returned the money.

When asked to comment on Steck endorsing his appointment said Steck “doubles down on ill-advised public safety policies that wreak havoc on our residents and our businesses.” Soares also said that Steck supports laws that allow teenagers to possess loaded firearms without consequences and laws that let shoplifters steal repeatedly.

Steck called Soares’ attack “desperate.”

“Mr. Soares is clearly desperate and trying to scare people with wild accusations that lack a basis in actual fact. No reasonable person would take the position that he is attributing to me. This is exactly why he should no longer be District Attorney.”

The primary is on June 25.