Former federal prosecutor and aide to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, Randy Mastro, claims City Council denied him a fair hearing.
Mayor Eric Adams has faced backlash over his nomination of Randy Mastro as the city’s top lawyer. Mastro, a former federal prosecutor and aide to Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, asked for his nomination to be withdrawn after a contentious 11-hour hearing by the City Council. The Council raised concerns about Mastro’s fitness for the role, citing his aggressive legal tactics and past clients, such as fast-food restaurant owners against raising the minimum wage and Chevron in an environmental pollution case.
Despite facing scrutiny, Mayor Adams had been pushing for Mastro’s nomination, viewing him as the ideal candidate for the position of corporation counsel. However, with little support from the Council, Mastro decided to withdraw his nomination, stating that he was being unfairly judged based on the hearing’s proceedings.
The controversy surrounding Mastro’s nomination comes at a challenging time for Mayor Adams, as his administration is under federal investigation for campaign fundraising and a civil sexual assault lawsuit. Last week, federal authorities seized the phones of several high-ranking officials in Adams’s administration, further adding to the turmoil.
The City Council’s skepticism about Mastro’s ethics and morals stems from his legal representation of controversial clients, which raised questions about his suitability for the role of corporation counsel. The Council was set to vote on Mastro’s nomination, but his withdrawal has put an end to the contentious debate.
Overall, the withdrawal of Randy Mastro’s nomination highlights the tensions between Mayor Adams and the City Council, as well as the challenges facing his administration in light of ongoing investigations and public scrutiny.
Source: The NY Times
