Randy Mastro has withdrawn as Mayor Eric Adams’ nominee for corporation counsel, avoiding what was expected to be almost certain rejection this week with many members of the City Council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.
City Council spokesperson Julia Agos said in a statement that “given the challenges raised about his nomination far in advance, it should have been no surprise that his record would be heavily scrutinized at a lengthy hearing.”
“While we are glad to see the unnecessary conflict and divisiveness that Randy Mastro’s nomination represented come to an end, his withdrawal letter demonstrates why so many lacked trust that he would be a suitable lawyer for all city officials, rather than just for the mayor,” Agos said. From the outset, Council Members raised concerns about his record and the ability to trust that he would be a lawyer for the Council and entire City.”
Agos added that the Council looks forward “to working with the Administration to advance a nominee who is unifying rather than divisive, has the trust of all city elected officials, and can secure support from the Council.”
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.