Mayor Bill de Blasio is tired of talking about his upcoming meeting with federal prosecutors, so he put out a "fact sheet" Friday to try and put a stop to the persistent questions about it lobbed his way. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.
Just 30 minutes before Mayor Bill de Blasio was scheduled to face reporters at a news conference, his press secretary sent around a fact sheet designed to put an end to questions about his upcoming sit-down meeting with federal prosecutors and the one he already had with the Manhattan district attorney's office.
"The administration has released all it will provide at this time concerning these voluntary meetings," a line from the fact sheet reads.
When pressed about about his discussion with the U.S. attorney's office, which has not yet happened, de Blasio promised to let New Yorkers know once it's behind him.
"We will tell you when it's done," de Blasio said. "You don't have to ask each time. We guarantee when that happens we will tell you when it's done."
The mayor doubled down Friday on his promise that no public money will be used for his defense. The city has set aside $11.6 million for outside lawyers to defend the administration. The mayor says none of it is for him.
"For everyone else, their legal expenses will be covered related to their work for the city of New York," de Blasio said.
The mayor says he intends to set up a legal defense fund to raise money for his legal team.
"They've sent bills, we just haven't had any money to pay them yet," de Blasio said.
The mayor's main attorney is from the law firm Kramer Levin, which also lobbies the city.
"We have absolute ability to separate the different considerations," de Blasio said.
Meanwhile, de Blasio and City Comptroller Scott Stringer exchanged sharp words over a contract for police body cameras that Stringer initially blocked. De Blasio called Stringer's move a cheap stunt.
"It's apples and oranges. That's why it's a cheap stunt," de Blasio said.
The Department of Investigation is investigating the contract.
A spokesman for Stringer said, "It's clear that investigations don’t concern the Mayor...Open and honest government is what being progressive is all about. It's unfortunate that the Mayor can't accept that."
The city is moving ahead with the body camera contract, but the sparks are still flying.