Staff Reports
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has recently hired well-respected defense attorneys to help him navigate through various investigations and lawsuits, using taxpayer funds to cover the costs. One lawsuit involves an allegation of sexual assault made against Adams for an incident that is said to have occurred in 1993 during his time as a police officer. Another investigation is centered around potential connections between Adams’ campaign and the Turkish government, and is being looked into by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.
In response to these legal challenges, Adams has enlisted the help of a team from the law firm WilmerHale. This firm has already received $730,000 from the mayor’s legal defense fund for their representation in the investigation related to his campaign’s supposed ties to the Turkish government. Additionally, Adams is considering hiring Randy Mastro as the city’s corporation counsel, a move that could result in him earning $250,000 annually, pending approval from the city council.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushes for high-profile defense attorneys on the city’s dime https://t.co/H0prkHEgel via @dcexaminer
— Anna (@Anna1557866) April 29, 2024
Furthermore, Adams has secured the services of attorney Alex Spiro to represent him in the sexual assault lawsuit. Spiro, known for his work with high-profile clients such as Elon Musk, Jay-Z, and Alec Baldwin, will be compensated at a rate of $250 per hour by the city. According to Adams and his legal team, the decision to hire outside legal representation allows city lawyers to focus their attention on important matters such as cases related to the migrant crisis.
Although the mayor’s use of taxpayer dollars to cover his legal expenses has sparked some debate, as in the case of the sexual assault lawsuit, some question the appropriateness of this approach. Basil Smikle, director of the Public Policy Program at Hunter College, raised concerns about whether the ongoing investigations and lawsuits could pose a distraction to Adams’ ability to effectively fulfill his mayoral duties.
It is worth noting that Adams is not the first New York official to have his legal challenges funded by taxpayers. For instance, former Mayor Bill de Blasio incurred over $10 million in expenses for defense lawyers, all funded by taxpayers, amid a federal investigation. Similarly, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s legal fees related to several sexual harassment investigations cost the city at least $20 million.
So far, Adams’ legal defense fund has gathered $1 million from donors. Additionally, the city will be handling the legal expenses of Timothy Pearson, an aide to the mayor, in connection with accusations of sexual harassment in a lawsuit.
