World

Randy Mastro withdraws from consideration as NYC’s top lawyer


Randy Mastro has withdrawn as Mayor Eric Adams’ nominee for corporation counsel, avoiding what was expected to be almost certain rejection this week with many members of the City Council opposing his track record of right-wing clients and causes.

Mastro made the decision in writing on Tuesday in a letter to Mayor Eric Adams. The news was first reported by Dan Mannarino, an anchor for PIX-11. It comes as Adams faces a growing crisis over federal scrutiny of his inner circle.

“Speaker [Adrienne] Adams has now made clear, by the way she permitted the Council to conduct its hearing on my nomination, that she intends to deny you the nominee of your choice,” he wrote.

Mastro sat for 11 hours of tough questioning, which suggested many councilmembers had already made up their minds. The role of corporation counsel, which is known as the city’s top lawyer, is charged with leading roughly 800 lawyers in the law department who defend the city and its agencies in civil cases.

It is considered among the most prestigious and influential roles in the city. The Council was scheduled to vote Thursday on Mastro’s nomination.

Mastro criticized the hearing in his letter, saying that it was “anything but fair.”

In a statement, Adams also took aim at the Council for what he suggested was a partisan deliberation process.

“It’s unfortunate that politics has seeped into this process and, as a result, will deprive New Yorkers of one of the most qualified candidates for this office our city has ever seen,” the mayor said.

Adams commended Mastro for being “one of our nation’s top lawyers.”

As recently as last week, the mayor reiterated his support for Mastro’s nomination, emphasizing that it was up to the Council to vote.

“I did my job,” he said of his pick. “Now it’s time for them to do their job.”

The withdrawal caps a heated episode in an increasingly strained relationship between Adams and the City Council, who have already feuded over rental assistance measures, new police transparency rules and approval of agency heads.

Mastro faced an uphill battle for confirmation from the start. At least a dozen progressive councilmembers said they opposed his nomination as early as April.

A group of prominent supporters, including former Gov. David Paterson boosted Mastro’s nomination by testifying before the Council, publishing a litany of op-eds on his behalf and contacting councilmembers in a behind-the-scenes campaign to gain their support.



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