Federally indicted Mayor Eric Adams playfully compared himself to Hunter Biden on Tuesday, crowing that the president’s controversial pardon of his son proves the Department of Justice has become politicized.
Like a political prop comic, Adams pulled a copy of the New York Times from his lectern during his weekly off-topic news conference to land his not-so-joking point.
The Gray Lady’s front page included a line that President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now both agree the “Biden Justice Department has been politicized.”
“Does that sound familiar?” Adams facetiously asked reporters. “I rest my case.”
A clearly emboldened Adams then launched into a boastful rant about his unprecedented criminal case’s supposed unfairness — and his lawyers’ directive to stay silent while the federal court process unfolds.
Adams, who has pleaded not guilty, compared himself to Muhammad Ali’s classic “Esquire” cover depicting the boxer stuck with arrows.
“I’m just a fighter,” he said.
“I believe in fighting for my rights. And this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, the onslaught of this,” Adams continued. “And I have to remain silent and I can’t answer and defend myself. That’s the hardest thing.”
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Federal prosecutors contend Adams took bribes in the form of luxury travel perks and defrauded taxpayers out of $10 million in campaign matching funds.
Many in Adams’ camp believe the election of Trump, who has vocally opined that the prosecution is political persecution for the mayor speaking out on migrants, will be a boon for his defense and help resurrect his floundering political career.
