‘Dodger’ back in New York
DeB ducks scandal queries
Mayor de Blasio ducked a barrage of questions Wednesday about the federal probe into his fund-raising operation and the abrupt firing of a city official tied to the controversial sale of a Lower East Side nursing home.
During his first news conference since he was grilled by US Attorney Preet Bharara’s top prosecutors, de Blasio refused to discuss details of the meeting.
He also would not say how many city agency heads he approached with the intention of securing favors for donors — and dismissed another question on the topic as “hypothetical.”
“There’s obviously an investigation going on. I want to respect that investigation,” he said.
Hizzoner also wouldn’t reveal the reasons behind the firing of Ricardo Morales as deputy commissioner of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
Morales was axed shortly after de Blasio’s four-hour sit-down with the feds and FBI on Friday.
“I believe they thought they needed someone better to do that job,” he said.
The mayor stood up and ended the news conference at the 114th Precinct station house in Queens (right) as a reporter pressed for details, asking: “Why can’t you tell us why Ricardo Morales was fired?”
“I covered it. Thank you,” de Blasio said, his back turned.
Morales approved the removal of deed restrictions on the Rivington House nursing home, allowing it to be sold and converted into luxury condos in what City Hall has admitted was a “flawed process.”
He could be a potential witness if corruption charges are filed in connection with a separate lease negotiation between the city and Queens restaurateur Harendra Singh, The New York Times reported.
Morales’ attorney, Guy Oksenhendler, said his client “was not given a reason” for being fired.
“I just find it remarkable that the meeting with the US Attorney’s Office and the mayor occurred and my client was fired shortly thereafter,” Oksenhendler said.
During the news conference, de Blasio also bobbed and weaved when asked why people tied to production company Broadway Stages and its head, Gina Argento, have denied making substantial donations to his campaign, despite records showing that they did.
The mayor said several months ago that his campaign would look into the matter, but it still hasn’t provided an explanation.
The feds have been probing de Blasio over pay-to-play suspicions involving his 2013 campaign and his now-shuttered nonprofit, the Campaign for One New York, for which he raised $4.3 million.
During a NY1 interview Monday, de Blasio admitted having a long history of doing favors for community members who need help with city business — but claimed it was aboveboard because he “never pressures” his department heads.
De Blasio has neither confirmed nor denied reports that he helped Brooklyn Rabbi Moishe Indig, who raised money for him, in getting the Buildings Department in 2014 to lift a partial vacate order at a Hasidic school.