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Q&A
Law Department's preparedness for potential legal threats from the Trump administration
3:02:30
ยท
3 min
Council Member Restler inquires about the Law Department's preparedness for potential legal threats from the Trump administration. Corporation Counsel Goode-Trufant outlines proactive steps taken by the department.
- The Law Department has formed a multi-divisional team to examine various potential legal threats.
- The department collaborates with partners across the country, including other states and municipalities, to share information and strategies.
- The Law Department maintains a balance between keeping the Mayor informed and maintaining independence in decision-making on legal matters.
Lincoln Restler
3:02:30
Okay.
3:02:32
I know I'll shift to councilmember Abrua after this topic.
3:02:35
I just wanna you know, we are facing I think totally unprecedented threats from the Trump administration.
3:02:43
Budgetary impacts, undermining our policies that are undermining our local laws, our ability to protect the most vulnerable New Yorkers, our way, our water, our air, everything we stand for feels like it's it's at risk.
3:02:58
The law department of course is our critical backstop in fighting back against federal overreach and and and conflict and policies that are in conflict with our values.
3:03:10
So has the law department taken any proactive steps to review potential legal threats that the city is facing from the Trump administration?
3:03:17
Are you expanding staff capacity to litigate and protect New Yorkers against the kind of chaos coming out of Washington?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:03:25
We most definitely have taken proactive steps.
3:03:29
As I mentioned in my testimony, we have a multi divisional team that looks at various questions that's in addition to items that are examined within our particular divisions such as, but not limited to, our affirmative litigation and environment law divisions.
3:03:55
We have a number of partners throughout the country with whom we share information and
Lincoln Restler
3:04:04
strategy At strategy.
3:04:06
At states, municipalities, both?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:04:08
Both.
Lincoln Restler
3:04:09
Okay.
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:04:10
And other entities.
3:04:12
And so we are closely reading, we're closely closely monitoring, there are places where we are participating as a party, places where we are an amicus, instances where we might be part of a common interest agreement with partners in order to watch a topic and when the time is ripe to take the next step.
Lincoln Restler
3:04:46
Do you need sign off from the mayor to engage with partners in pushing back on issues do you need sign off from the mayor or from city hall when exploring ways to push back against federal overreach or to work with partners on these kinds of on this type of litigation?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:05:09
Not necessarily.
3:05:11
There are certain questions that I do discuss with the mayor because if there's something that's going to be in the paper the next day, he should hear from me first.
3:05:23
Totally.
3:05:24
So
Lincoln Restler
3:05:25
Bare minimum.
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:05:26
So so there are some things that are discussed, but we have 70,000 matters overall.
3:05:35
And so everything that we do can't possibly be discussed.
Lincoln Restler
3:05:42
Is he conflicted out from dealing with any issues relating to the federal government, the Justice Department as a result of his his situation?
Muriel Goode-Trufant
3:05:53
I would like to not answer any questions about his personal situation because we represent only the city and we make certain that we keep that line very bright.