New York City Mayor Eric Adams suggested President-elect Donald Trump is a “great patriot” in an appearance on Dr. Phil‘s podcast released Tuesday.
Adams has received a torrent of criticism for appealing to Trump in recent months after he was indicted on bribery charges.
Adams’ remark came after Dr. Phil asked him if something had “infected” New York City after both he and Trump had been indicted there. Trump was charged by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office in a state case while Adams was charged by the Southern District of New York Attorney’s Office in a federal case.
“I started looking at my case … and then I started to go and search what has happened to other people — not only to President-elect Trump, but there are other great patriots that have gone through a difficult period of time,” Adams said.
The New York City Mayor’s comment comes a day after Trump said he’d “certainly look at” pardoning Adams and that he thought Adams was treated “pretty unfairly.”
Adams then complained about the money he’s spent on his case and the “leaks that have been slipped out.”
“As much as we ask the federal government, can you stop leaking this to allow us to have our opportunity to defend ourselves? It’s almost as though you have your hands tied behind your back because you can’t talk as much as you want to push back on some of the accusations.”
Adams’ comment, that he has his “hands tied behind” his back, appears similar to Trump’s frustration toward the gag order he had in his New York case. The president-elect often complained that he couldn’t defend himself.
“This is a national issue that we have to face,” he said. “The American public is not aware of how we have really abused our criminal justice system.”
Adams blamed his handling of the migrant crisis, saying he was “extremely vociferous” about it, for why he was indicted. He added his only “consolation” from his indictment was that “mommy is not alive.”
“I would not want my mother to watch me go through this, and it hurts a lot,” Adams said.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The mayor will face trial in April of next year. Simultaneously, he’ll have to compete in a crowded New York City mayoral primary with a host of challengers who are looking to unseat him.
If he gets a pardon from Trump in his bribery case, it could hurt his popularity further in blue New York City, though it could save him from being put behind bars.
