Trump sympathy for NYC Mayor Adams’ federal indictment sparks tough questions, not many answers

Mayor Adams, asked Tuesday if helium wanted to disavow supportive comments astir his national indictment made by former President Donald Trump astatine the Al Smith dinner, said that New Yorkers request to look astatine the issues — and told  reporters they were “wasting” his clip with excessively galore Trump-related questions.

“I’m conscionable not going to get backmost and distant connected comments that are made connected some sides,” Adams said astatine his play property briefing Tuesday successful effect to a question astir what helium made of the Republican candidate’s statements.

Trump has doubly made remarks successful enactment of Adams, echoing the GOP statesmanlike nominee’s oft-repeated claims astir being victimized by a politicized Justice Department.

At past week’s Al Smith dinner, Trump  encouraged the mayor: “We were persecuted, Eric. You’re gonna win, Eric.” And in different lawsuit conscionable hours aft Adams’ charges were made nationalist precocious past month, Trump called the Justice Department “dirty players” for indicting the politician and compared his ain hush wealth case to Adams’ bribery and fraud case. 

AP

Republican statesmanlike nominee erstwhile President Donald Trump speaks astatine the 79th yearly Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, successful New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Asked astir Trump’s archetypal comments, Adams told reporters astatine the time: “I invited enactment from each American, nary substance wherever they are and who they are.”

On Tuesday, the politician was again asked astir Trump arsenic one reporter pressed the issue.

“He asked you constituent blank if you would disavow erstwhile President Donald Trump’s support,” the newsman said. “To me, it didn’t look similar you answered, and you said determination were problems connected some sides. So, conscionable privation to springiness you a accidental to reply here.”

“He asked maine constituent blank, constituent and I answered constituent blank,” Adams replied. “People request to ballot connected these issues that are important. I can’t marque it clearer.”

Adams, whose narration with the Biden White House weakened amid the mayor’s disapproval of the president’s handling of the migrant crisis, endorsed Kamala Harris this past summer. He extended enactment connected Tuesday said helium attended the DNC and that helium is consenting to assistance the campaign.

“I was wide connected who my campaigner is,” Adams said.

Faced with further questions astir wherefore helium has been little outspoken astir what New Yorkers should cognize astir the anticipation of Trump winning the presidency, Adams said helium had already addressed the issue.

“I answered the Trump question already,” helium said. “If anyone, if immoderate of you, person different Trump question, you should prevention it, due to the fact that I’m not wasting my clip connected that.”

The erstwhile president is slated to big a rally astatine Madison Square Garden connected Sunday — a determination that has travel nether occurrence from different elected officials — but not from Adams, who said Tuesday that helium plans to “meditate” that evening. 

“You know, there’s truthful overmuch vigor going connected now, we conscionable gotta get into that peaceful mode,” Adams said. “Madison Square Garden, the full city, I deliberation it’s important that radical workout their close to vote.”

Originally Published: October 22, 2024 astatine 4:27 p.m.