News : POLITICO New York Playbook: Giuliani’s law license suspended — Adams says he’s Democrats’ future

Friday, June 25, 2021

POLITICO New York Playbook: Giuliani’s law license suspended — Adams says he’s Democrats’ future — No timeline for Cuomo probe

Jun 25, 2021

By Erin Durkin, Anna Gronewold and Téa Kvetenadze

Presented by Equinor

Rudy Giuliani, once the mayor of this fine metropolis and a U.S. attorney before that, can no longer practice law in the state of New York. A court suspended Giuliani's law license Thursday, citing his "demonstrably false and misleading statements" advancing former President Donald Trump's claims of fraud during the 2020 election.

As Trump's personal lawyer, Giuliani advanced his false claims to have won the 2020 presidential election -- and his misconduct "immediately threatens the public interest " the New York Supreme Court appellate division panel said in its ruling. The suspension is temporary, but he could be permanently disbarred, pending the outcome of further proceedings.

It's quite a fall from grace for the former mayor, who got to City Hall on the strength of his reputation as a hard-charging federal prosecutor, serving as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He's now under criminal investigation by that same office over his dealings with Ukraine.

"We conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump," the court wrote. "These false statements were made to improperly bolster respondent's narrative that due to widespread voter fraud, victory in the 2020 United States presidential election was stolen from his client."

Giuliani's lawyers are vowing to challenge the loss of his license, while Trump is hailing him as a latter-day Eliot Ness — literally. "The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, the Eliot Ness of his generation, one of the greatest crime fighters our Country has ever known, and this is what the Radical Left does to him," the former president said in a statement. "All of New York is out of control."

IT'S FRIDAY. Got tips, suggestions or thoughts? Let us know ... By email: EDurkin@politico.com and agronewold@politico.com, or on Twitter: @erinmdurkin and @annagronewold

WHERE'S ANDREW? In Albany with no announced public schedule.

WHERE'S BILL? Appearing on WNYC's Brian Lehrer show.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I stopped listening to him a long time ago." — Mayor Bill de Blasio , on Gov. Andrew Cuomo's latest attacks on his competence.

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WHAT CITY HALL'S READING

Adams declares himself 'future of the Democratic party' ahead of final election results, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg: A confident Eric Adams declared himself the "face of the new Democratic Party" on Thursday, two days after voters delivered him a decisive lead in the primary to replace outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio. The remarks, delivered during a press conference outside Brooklyn Borough Hall where he works as borough president, were a broadside against the far-left flank of the party that organized to block Adams and fourth-place finisher Andrew Yang. "Look at me and you're seeing the future of the Democratic Party. If the Democratic Party fails to recognize what we did here in New York, they're going to have a problem in the midterm elections and they're going to have a problem in the presidential election," Adams said during a wide-ranging event that was occasionally interrupted by supportive horn honks, cheers and a passerby who sniped at Adams' close relationship with Brooklyn party attorney Frank Carone.

— "Eric Adams blames City Council for 'unconstitutionally vague' chokehold bill," by New York Post's Sam Raskin: "Eric Adams ripped the City Council's anti-chokehold bill that was recently ruled 'unconstitutionally vague' — claiming the body erred in not consulting law enforcement on it and produced a law that was 'not realistic' for cops to follow. 'The City Council did not sit down with law enforcement, advocates and professionals like the National Black Police Association … and others to craft a smart bill,' Adams, a former NYPD captain, said on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe.' 'I'm opposed to the chokehold. We saw what happened with so many cases, but when you're saying you cannot touch someone's chest … it's just not realistic.'"

— " How The NYC Mayoral Race Revealed A 'Tale Of Three Cities,'" by Gothamist's Elizabeth Kim: "Bill de Blasio won the mayoralty after having famously campaigned on a liberal critique (made famous by Mario Cuomo) of New York City as a 'tale of two cities' based on growing economic inequalities. Eight years later, following the count of first choice votes for mayor late Tuesday night, the map of New York City's electorate revealed a more nuanced tri-color divide between outerborough communities, wealthier sections of Manhattan and Brooklyn, and progressive neighborhoods scattered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens."

" Andrew Yang Launches Absentee Ballot Lawsuit, Heralding More Legal Action," by The City's Clifford Michel: "Andrew Yang's supposedly defunct mayoral campaign served competitors papers in a preemptive lawsuit filed ahead of the city's counting of ranked choice votes — charging on even after conceding the race Tuesday. The move came as a Staten Island City Council candidate launched a similar lawsuit in another crowded race — heralding a potential onslaught of legal actions in a primary featuring a record number of candidates and the local debut of ranked choice voting."

"'The restoration of democracy': Mayor de Blasio applauds end of COVID state of emergency," by New York Daily News' Shant Shahrigian: "Mayor de Blasio on Thursday hailed the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency as 'the restoration of democracy in New York state.' The mayor's comments came a day after Gov. Cuomo announced that the emergency declaration — under which Cuomo issued numerous pandemic orders affecting city life — would expire Thursday at midnight. 'That means local control resumes,' de Blasio said. 'The crisis, thank God, is passing. It's time to restore democracy. Finally, this is happening and it's going to allow us to do so much more.' The last coronavirus-related restrictions on daily life were phased out earlier this month."

"Restaurant & Bar Industry Laments The End Of 'Extraordinarily Popular' To-Go Alcohol," by Gothamist's Sophia Chang: "Say farewell to the takeout cups of wine and the pouches of cocktails: with Governor Andrew Cuomo ending New York's state of emergency disaster last night, he also has ended the pandemic policy allowing to-go drinks and delivery of alcohol on short notice to restaurateurs and bar owners. New York restaurant and hospitality representatives mourned the end of the policy on Thursday, saying it had provided a much-needed financial boost for the struggling industry. … A proposal to make the alcohol to-go policy permanent in New York failed to pass the state legislature earlier this month. 'It has provided a critically important line of revenue to our local restaurants, and it's extraordinarily popular with the public. So it's a shame that the legislature didn't continue it,' said Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, in an interview Thursday."

— "In a press conference held at Yankee Distillers in Clifton Park, a group of well-known bar and restaurant owners, distillers and business advocates openly expressed their rage about the inaction on pending bills that would have extended the booze take-out rules — even going so far as to accuse lawmakers of ignoring their pleas because of political contributions from the liquor store lobby. … Those who spoke at the Clifton Park press conference urged the Legislature to call a special session to come back to Albany to vote to extend to-go cocktail and alcohol sales if not indefinitely then for a set period of time," reports Times Union's Steve Barnes and Larry Rulison.

" Permanent Cap on Delivery-App Fees Proposed for New York City," by Wall Street Journal's Rich Calder: "The New York City Council is considering a legislative package aimed at significantly regulating the food-delivery app industry, including permanently limiting fees that operators like Grubhub and Uber Eats can charge restaurants. In a bid to help the city's struggling restaurant industry survive the Covid-19 pandemic, the council last year passed legislation temporarily prohibiting third-party food-delivery services from charging eateries more than 15% per delivery order and more than 5% for marketing and other nondelivery fees. However, the combined 20% cap is set to expire Aug. 17. It only covers the first 90 days after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo allowed indoor dining to reopen May 19 at full capacity statewide. Some small restaurant operators say the app fees typically can run them a combined 30% or more of what they take in on every order. A new bill sponsored by Councilman Francisco Moya, a Queens Democrat, would make the cap permanent."

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WHAT ALBANY'S READING

N.Y. attorney general offers no timeline for Cuomo probe, by POLITICO's Bill Mahoney: New York state Attorney General Tish James is not offering a timeline for the conclusion of her investigation into an array of allegations made against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, including multiple accusations of sexual harassment. "I cannot give you a date on when it will be concluded," she said. "It will conclude when it concludes." The attorney general opened her inquiry after several women accused Cuomo of sexual harassment beginning in February. James was in Albany on Thursday to announce a crackdown on alleged drug traffickers who appear to be behind much of the violence in the city in recent months. It was the first time she has taken questions from the Capitol press since she launched her probe into Cuomo earlier this year. She was asked if she would rule out a run for governor in 2022, when Cuomo, a fellow Democrat, could be running for a fourth term. New York does not have term limits for governors. "The politics stops at the door of the office of attorney general," she said.

— James announced charges against 47 reputed gang members accused of selling drugs and guns across the Capital Region. "A yearlong investigation dubbed 'Operation Crosstown Quarantine' led to the seizure of 1.2 kilograms of cocaine, 140 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl, oxycodone, $40,000 in cash and nine firearms, including one 'ghost gun,'" according to the New York Post's Bruce Golding and Bernadette Hogan.

" Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Aide Questioned in Sexual Harassment Investigation," by Wall Street Journal's Jimmy Vielkind: "Investigators with the New York state attorney general's office have interviewed a senior adviser to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and are examining the environment in the governor's office going back more than a decade, according to people familiar with the matter. Investigators spoke recently with Rich Azzopardi, a senior adviser who is one of the governor's principal spokespeople, the people said. He is the highest-ranking current aide to Mr. Cuomo known to have been interviewed as part of the investigation into sexual-harassment allegations against the governor overseen by Attorney General Letitia James. People familiar with the probe said they expected the governor's senior aides, including Mr. Azzopardi, to be among the last questioned in the probe, which was launched in March."

"These Appellate Judges Challenged DiFiore. Will Cuomo Give Them Their Spots Back?" by the New York Law Journal's Ryan Tarinelli: "A group of older midlevel appellate judges last year publicly challenged New York's top judge by filing a lawsuit in a last-resort bid to keep their jobs. What followed was a bitter months-long controversy over whether Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and other high-level judicial officials should have forced out the appellate judges, and a slate of other jurists, while facing a budget cut from the state. A total of 46 older judges were pushed off the bench after being denied certification, which permits state judges to continue to serve even after they reach 70 years of age.

"Two of the ousted appellate judges, Ellen Gesmer and David Friedman, returned to the bench last week after state lawmakers restored the judiciary's budget. But both Gesmer and Friedman are working as trial-level judges in state Supreme Court. Yet to be resolved? Whether they will be elevated to their former spots in the Appellate Division, First Department by Gov. Andrew Cuomo."

" Cuomo signs Gender Recognition Act to aid nonbinary, transgender NYers," by Newsday's Michael Gormley: "Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday signed the Gender Recognition Act into law, allowing nonbinary New Yorkers to use an 'X' on official state documents for gender questions and provides additional protections for transgender, nonbinary, intersex and nonconforming people. The act allows an 'X' to be used instead of male or female choices on state driver's licenses."

#UpstateAmerica: Albany Water Department employees keep digging up hollow tree trunks that are remnants of the city's first public water system.

FROM THE DELEGATION

"Brindisi Rules Out Run to Reclaim Congressional Seat in 2022," by The Associated Press' Marina Villeneuve: "Former U.S. Rep. Anthony Brindisi says he won't run to reclaim his congressional seat in 2022. The Democrat conceded in February after New York officials certified Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney's razor-thin victory in the November 2020 election. Brindisi thanked supporters in an email Thursday from his campaign email address, but said that commuting to Washington, D.C. each week 'took its toll on me' and his family. A state judge had ruled that Tenney won the race for central New York's 22nd Congressional District by 109 votes. In 2018, Brindisi defeated Tenney and flipped the congressional district in a tight race: he came out ahead by a 1.8 percentage point margin."

AROUND NEW YORK

— Buffalo business leaders say they will work with the likely new mayor, who is a Democratic Socialist, but 'nobody likes the unknown.'

— Carl Paladino ( yes, that one) is considering a write-in campaign for Buffalo mayor.

— IBM is cutting 84 jobs at a Buffalo Billion tech hub.

— Syracuse University said that 99 percent of its faculty and employees have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

— A historical marker was unveiled to commemorate Asa Dunbar, who is considered the first Black settler in Rochester.

— The MTA is permanently ending cash transactions at subway station booths.

— A George Floyd statue in Brooklyn was defaced with white supremacist graffiti.

— New York State Association for Affordable Housing and the Broadband Equity Partnership are trying to find ways to get the city and state's broadband goals into housing.

— The Park Slope street where Pete Hamill grew up was named in honor of the legendary journalist.

— A woman pushing a baby stroller was struck and killed by a truck in Queens.

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SOCIAL DATA BY DANIEL LIPPMAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Justice Sonia Sotomayor … CNN's Betsy Klein … Narrative Strategies' Patrick O'Connor … FT's Patrick Temple-West … Corbett Daly … John Fisher of NBC News PR … Dan Meyers of APCO Worldwide … John Randall of BCW Global … New York Post's Reuven Fenton … Jackie Bradford of NBC Washington … author JR Thornton … Jeremy Bearer-Friend

MAKING MOVES — Katharine Nasielski is now deputy director for government relations at CARE. She previously was foreign policy adviser for Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.). … Michelle Holder will be president and CEO of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth. She is an assistant professor of economics at John Jay College.

SPOTTED: Judy Woodruff having lunch on Thursday with Bob Barnett at Cafe Milano … Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) and Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), deputy national security adviser Jon Finer and U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking dining together at Cafe Milano on Tuesday night. (h/t POLITICO Playbook)

FOR YOUR RADAR — " Teneo CEO allegedly kicked off Global Citizen board after inappropriate drunken behavior"— Page Six's Emily Smith: "Declan Kelly, the CEO of the consulting firm for Fortune 500 execs Teneo, was kicked off the board of the charity Global Citizen after he got drunk and acted inappropriately with a number of women at their starry festival, sources tell Page Six."

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REAL ESTATE

"Homeowner Help Is Coming — But Not Until After the Foreclosure Moratorium Expires," by The City's Allison Dikanovic: "While renters and landlords are finally able to seek funds from the state's Emergency Rental Assistance Program, New York homeowners have been waiting more than a year for government relief for their mortgages and expenses. Last week, New York State announced a plan to use more than $540 million of federal relief funds to help homeowners at risk of foreclosure due to the pandemic. The federal funds given to New York for homeowner relief are less than a quarter of the $2.4 billion earmarked for rent relief. Some advocates worry the money will only be a drop in the bucket for owners who have tapped into savings and gone into debt to hold onto their homes. And it looks like the application process won't begin until September — after the pandemic-spurred foreclosure moratorium is due to expire Aug. 31."

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