De Blasio, Cuomo Continue To Clash Over Inspector General's Report
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The intense bitterness between Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo was on full display Thursday.
CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported the mayor refused to apologize for blaming the governor for some of his corruption troubles.
While police brass talked about the latest crime statistics during a press conference, the mayor intently shuffled note cards, reading and re-reading what appeared to be talking points as he got ready to take yet another round of questions about the corruption scandal.
De Blasio said he would not apologize to Cuomo.
On Wednesday, the governor unloaded on the mayor for blaming him and a state Board of Elections official he appointed for leaking a bombshell report about his fundraising efforts in 2014. The inspector general said Republicans were the culprits. Cuomo then offered a tough assessment of the report's findings.
"The U.S. attorney and the Manhattan DA and the attorney general believe there are significant questions of following the law and legal compliance when it comes to the mayor's fundraising," Cuomo said.
CBS2's Kramer asked de Blasio how he felt about the governor basically impugning his integrity.
"Doesn't surprise me," de Blasio said.
De Blasio stuck to his position that the governor had something to do with the confidential report being made public.
The mayor was unmoved by the inspector general's insistence that Republicans were behind the leak.
"The lines between Republicans and Democrats often blur in Albany," de Blasio said.
WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported that de Blasio said the state's Board of Elections has a double standard.
"Look, I've said we are cooperating fully with the district attorney, with the U.S. attorney, we respect them, it's been a very communicative process," de Blasio said. "We've said from the beginning that we want to help in every way we can and work to conclude these issues as quickly as possible."
The mayor insisted he will be vindicated when U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance complete their work.
"We know we've done things the right way," de Blasio stated.
The mayor also said the corruption headlines have not affected his family because "the truth is a very comforting thing."
The governor's office said in a statement the mayor's routine if "officially ridiculous."
