New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday avoided criticizing the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder, but noted his surprise at the media attention the incident received.
Khalil, an activist who helped lead the protests at Columbia University last year, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on Saturday.
“I'm finding surprising the level of support you are displaying, but I didn't see that support for me,” said Adams during his weekly Tuesday press conference.
The mayor was referring to the lack of media coverage about his assertion and legal findings that he says indicate the Department of Justice, under the former Biden administration, brought federal corruption charges against him after he complained publicly that Washington wasn't supporting the city when undocumented immigrants were flooding the city.
“If you're about justice, don't be inconsistent in your call for justice,” said Adams, who stated reporters unfairly covered his indictment charges.
Attorney Paul Clement, appointed by the judge overseeing the criminal case against Adams, on Friday said he advises the judge to dismiss the case permanently, rather than approve the Justice Department’s request to preserve the right to reinstate it in the future.
“I did nothing wrong. And so there was never a time or moment that I felt as something was held over my head,” said Adams. “We got to be honest to cover this stuff. They use just gymnastics to get the indictment.”
As to the recent protests in the city that is condemning the arrest of Khalil, the mayor said free speech was important, but the use of masks during rallies and protests were not.
“I think that you would see a lot less cowardly actions if people were not able to hide behind masks…The mask and being able to cover your face is allowing people to be emboldened. And I think it's imperative that we go back to what was in place, and that is that you are not allowed to wear the mask,” said Adams.
The mayor said immigration matters are in the hands of the federal government.
“People fail to realize that. ICE is a law enforcement entity. And I'm going to collaborate with law enforcement, every federal, state, and city agency in doing so. But specifically with this individual, that's not my job,” said Adams.
Meanwhile the mayor said he is ready for a fair fight to keep his job, after City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams stepped into the race.
“I said this over and over again, come one, come all. But what one can't do is they can't run in the shadows. They have to be in the town halls, take the tough questions, meet the New York City journalists,” said Adams, who added that he will start campaigning soon.
Adams lauded the launch of the city's ‘baby boxes’ initiative, a program that gives newborn baby supplies to alleviate stress for new parents.
The mayor also made a surprising admission: he has not been reading the news.
“Four weeks ago, I stopped reading papers. I stopped listening to the news,” said Adams, who stated that keeping up with the news was giving him "mental obesity."
“I am just so at peace, you know?" he said.
