In his first public comments about his upcoming meeting with federal prosecutors, Mayor Bill de Blasio exclusively told NY1 Political Anchor Errol Louis that he looks forward to setting the record straight. He says they will meet in the coming weeks. Our Grace Rauh has the story.
Mayor de Blasio has already met with prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Next up? A sit-down with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan, which he says will happen at some point in the coming weeks.
"I was very willing to go in," the mayor said on the Road to City Hall Monday. "I look forward to going in. I'm happy to set the record straight that we did things the right way."
On "Mondays with the Mayor" on NY1, de Blasio seemed to suggest that the meeting was voluntary.
"I made very clear to my lawyer that he could engage in a dialogue as to if they had a desire to meet with me, how we would do it," de Blasio said.
There have been multiple investigations into the mayor's fundraising and political activities, including by federal and state prosecutors. The U.S. Attorney's Office is focused on possible pay-to-play politics at City Hall and donors to the mayor's now shuttered non-profit group, the Campaign for One New York.
"From the very beginning of the investigations I have said we did everything right," de Blasio said. "My team did everything right. I did everything right to abide by the law."
It is not the only legal battle the mayor is waging right now. On Tuesday, his administration will be in court for oral arguments in the "Agents of the City" lawsuit, filed by NY1 and the New York Post. The news outlets are seeking emails between the mayor and one of his outside advisors, Jonathan Rosen, a private consultant with many clients who have business before the city.
"There are people in your life who are advisers, who you have a private and confidential relationship with. Legal guidance told us that was appropriate and those communications would be protected. People were very open and blunt in those communications because they believed they were protected," de Blasio said.
The mayor has said that all future communication with his outside advisors sought through public records requests will be turned over.