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Mayor de Blasio Says He Stuck to Law, But Some Laws Need Changing
There are currently 5 separate investigations going on into New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his fundraising activities.
But the Mayor says he's being targeted for campaign finance tactics that have been used by many mayors and political leaders before him, and his actions have complied with law.
"There’s something going on here that goes beyond anything we’ve seen previously," said the Mayor. "Everything was done very carefully, meticulously with legal guidance all along the way and consistent with what so many other people have done."
"There’s something going on here" says @BilldeBlasio. "I certainly asked ppl to support Dems + everything was done legally + appropriately."
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) April 29, 2016"It’s very interesting that now it becomes a subject of these questions, and I think we have to figure out some of the motivations behind this," he said, declining to point a finger at Governor Cuomo.
Mayor de Blasio also said he would love to see reforms made to campaign finance laws, specifically full public financing of campaigns, but until then we have to "create some consistency" in how we call out people who break the law.
The mayor went on to address the recent New York Daily News piece on a developer's plans to dig up a lead contaminated lot next to an Upper West Side school, which he called "propaganda, not journalism."
Taking calls, the mayor also made clear: he plans to run for reelection.
“Absolutely I’m running for reelection,” says @billdeblasio on @WNYC.
— Brian Lehrer Show (@BrianLehrer) April 29, 2016Jeff from BK @BrianLehrer : I voted for you b/c "I thought you were a big picture progressive," Now seems like "death by a thousand cuts."
— Jeff Mays (@JeffCMays) April 29, 2016