Innocent until proven guilty!
That’s what Bill de Blasio said in defense of his successor Eric Adams — the first sitting mayor of the Big Apple to be indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe.
“I think first, we owe to the mayor, again, the presumption of innocence, because that’s how our system works,” he told CNN host Kaitlan Collins on Wednesday night.
In 2021, de Blasio was accused of misusing NYPD resources for “political purposes” during his failed presidential campaign in a damning Department of Investigation report.
In his interview with Collins, he drew on this experience as he revealed his “mixed reactions” to the Adams indictment.
“I went through an experience with a Southern District where I saw a lot of things that did not come true despite allegations, I do think we have to be really careful here,” he warned.
“We haven’t seen anything specific. We don’t know what this is yet. We haven’t heard a defense so I’m feeling very, you know, two different feelings at this moment.
Eric Adams indicted: Live updates after NYC mayor hit with indictment
De Blasio, who served as the 109th mayor from 2014 to 2021, advised that Adams needs to “stabilize things” and show that his administration is “strengthened in this difficult moment.”
“A mayor or any leader could do that in a moment of crisis, but it takes leveling with people and saying, ‘Yeah, we have a tough situation here, not sugarcoating it, but here’s what I’m going to do to fix it,’” de Blasio said.
“If he truly believes he’s innocent, he has a right to stand up and say that and keep his job,” he added.
Follow the latest on the FBI raids of Adams administration officials:
- FBI raids NYC homes of two top Mayor Adams aides, Sheena Wright and Phil Banks
- Feds raid home of NYPD Commish Edward Caban, other close Adams allies
- Home of top NYC Mayor Eric Adams aide Winnie Greco raided by FBI: sources
- Additional FBI raids revealed in Eric Adams campaign fundraising probe
- Adams’ chief fundraiser raided by FBI over alleged kickback scheme involving Turkish government
Adams has been indicted by a grand jury on charges connected to a federal probe, sources told The Post — as the defiant mayor claimed he was being persecuted by the federal government for speaking about the city’s migrant crisis.
It comes as part of a widening probe into his administration, which has been followed by several high-profile resignations, including Schools Chancellor David Banks this week.
The historic indictment is expected to be unsealed Thursday by US Attorney Damian Williams, according to the sources.
