Q&A
Questions about Mastro's knowledge of alleged voter suppression tactics in Giuliani's 1993 campaign
4:00:29
·
171 sec
Council Member Farías questions Randy Mastro about his knowledge of alleged voter suppression tactics during Rudy Giuliani's 1993 mayoral campaign, for which Mastro served as outside counsel. Mastro denies any knowledge of such activities.
- Farías cites a recent anecdote shared by Giuliani about distributing misleading cards to Hispanic voters
- She mentions a Department of Justice investigation into voter suppression tactics during that election
- Mastro states he was unaware of any such activities and is hearing about them for the first time
- He emphasizes that his role was limited to being the lawyer before the campaign finance board
- Mastro asserts that had he known about such tactics, he would have strongly opposed them
- He reiterates that he has not spoken to Giuliani in years and has no personal knowledge of the alleged events
Amanda Farías
4:00:29
You can supplement it in your testimony, please, Mister Mashro.
4:00:33
I want to go back in time and discuss your work as an attorney for the 1993 Giuliani mayoral campaign.
4:00:38
You were the outside counsel for that campaign.
4:00:41
The public recently learned some troubling things about what took place during that campaign as a result of a YouTube show called America's Mayor Live.
4:00:49
America's Mayor Live is a YouTube show hosted by your former principal, Rudy Giuliani, during an episode with former Donald Trump adviser, Steve Bannon, and filled Arizona gubernatorial candidate, Carrie Lake, in April of last year.
4:01:01
He gleefully shared an anecdote about the election day operations of that campaign.
4:01:07
These are his words.
4:01:09
And I quote, so they went through East Harlem, which is all Hispanic, and they gave out little cards.
4:01:14
And the card said, if you come to vote, make sure you have your green card because INS are picking up illegals, end quote.
4:01:21
And so they went and spread these cards all over Latino communities of the city.
4:01:26
To make matters worse, Giuliani had to hold back giggles while recounting the story.
4:01:31
You were an attorney for that campaign, as you stated previously, Were you aware of this scheme?
4:01:38
No.
4:01:40
A Department of Justice press release from that election day announced that the DOJ was aware that posters had been placed throughout New York City misinforming voters about the role of federal officials in that day's elections.
4:01:54
The DOJ would go on to investigate these illegal activities along with other voter suppression tactics including voter intimidation and pull side disruption all neighborhoods of color.
4:02:04
Mister Mashro should attorneys for an organization do everything they can to advise their clients against discriminatory acts that violate constitutional law?
Randy Mastro
4:02:14
Yes.
4:02:15
And, again, my role I was as the lawyer before the campaign finance board, I was not involved in any other aspect of the campaign.
Amanda Farías
4:02:23
And as an attorney to the Giuliani campaign, though the the election the electoral part of it, did you advise against any of these vile discriminatory acts.
Randy Mastro
4:02:34
Having not been aware of what you were saying or aware that any of that actually happened, I obviously did not advise in any way, shape, or form about it, but had such a thing occurred hypothetically or I've been told that such a thing were going to occur, I would have expressed in no uncertain terms that that was not totally unacceptable and could not possibly happen.
Amanda Farías
4:03:02
Did you learn of it at any time period?
4:03:04
No.
4:03:05
While you were there.
Randy Mastro
4:03:05
No.
4:03:05
I I'm hearing this for the first time today.
4:03:07
I, you know, I I I haven't spoken to the former mayor in years.
4:03:12
So what you're telling me today is not something I ever personally experienced because I were personally aware of.
4:03:18
Or have any knowledge of?