Q&A
Mastro's relationship with Giuliani and views on recent controversies
6:00:55
·
3 min
Council Member Krishnan questions Mastro about his long-standing relationship with Rudy Giuliani and his views on Giuliani's recent controversial actions, including efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
- Mastro's professional relationship with Giuliani spans decades, including work at the US attorney's office and as Giuliani's deputy mayor
- Krishnan notes that Mastro has called Giuliani a role model and inspiration in the past
- Mastro claims he has spoken out against actions taken around the 2020 election through his work with Citizens Union
- He states he hasn't spoken to Giuliani in years and that his admiration was based on Giuliani's past actions
- Mastro expresses reluctance to directly criticize Giuliani's disbarment, calling it a 'heartbreaking situation'
- He affirms that he would speak out against lawyers who perjure themselves or engage in unethical conduct
Shekhar Krishnan
6:00:55
Thank you.
6:00:56
Mister Messer, I'm gonna keep moving because I'm on a clock here.
6:00:58
So you start to add as corporation counsel, you are once again hired by the public to once again represent the people of New York City as well as the city council and the mayor.
6:01:07
The public interest is paramount, and you must serve it with transparency.
6:01:11
Not personal interest, not political interest.
6:01:14
So my question, rhetorical, is whose interest would you serve in this role.
6:01:18
I don't need an answer to that question because I think your record speaks for itself.
6:01:22
And I just conclude my questions by asking you to testify earlier.
6:01:26
You worked under Giuliani at the US attorney's office, you're his chief of staff, you're his deputy mayor, your professional relationship goes back a very long time.
6:01:35
You have called him a role model and an inspiration.
6:01:38
You have spoken up for his presidential campaign.
6:01:42
As I mentioned, you called him a role model and an inspiration.
6:01:44
Someone who has now been indicted, disbarred, and is bankrupt because of his efforts to overturn the 2020 election for Donald Trump and to incite a national a violent insurrection against our country.
6:01:59
Have you spoken out and denounced Rudy Giuliani for his efforts to overturn the 20 election and incite a violent insurrection against the United States.
Randy Mastro
6:02:10
Yes.
6:02:12
When?
6:02:13
At Citizens Union, we've repeatedly taken positions.
6:02:17
About the actions that occurred around that election.
Shekhar Krishnan
6:02:22
I'm asking you personally not easy to do.
Randy Mastro
6:02:24
Let me answer because but gave a stick to the question.
6:02:27
Question.
Shekhar Krishnan
6:02:28
Alright.
6:02:28
Question is,
Randy Mastro
6:02:31
I have submitted to this council.
6:02:33
The speech that I gave at Citizens Union's annual dinner where I said that I hoped the lawyers for that campaign would come forward publicly and apologize for what they did.
6:02:47
So please don't.
6:02:49
I don't need you to misunderstand in any way.
6:02:52
I haven't spoken to Rudy Giuliani in years.
6:02:55
And when I said he was a role model, It was because of the courage he showed standing up to the Reagan administration when I was a federal prosecutor.
6:03:02
The courage he showed and backing me up when I put my life on the line against organized crime, and he supported those efforts.
6:03:10
So there are things about Rudy Giuliani, the Rudy Giuliani of that that period that, yes, I respect, but I have not had any contact with him in years.
Shekhar Krishnan
6:03:23
And finally, my last question is, do you believe it was the right decision for the state of New York to disbar Ruby Giuliani for his actions?
Randy Mastro
6:03:32
I'm not here to pile on to someone.
6:03:38
It's a heartbreaking situation for me.
6:03:42
I believe in the law and the process and the bar and the bar took the action that it did.
Shekhar Krishnan
6:03:47
But you're gonna be the Nate the city's chief lawyer with a staff of several 100 lawyers.
6:03:53
If a lawyer perjured himself or herself in front of the courts or in front of state agencies or legislatures, do you believe that that lawyer should be disciplined and disbarred for their conduct?
6:04:03
Would you speak out?
6:04:04
If such actions happened under your watch, Yes.
6:04:08
Thank you.