Mamdani criticizes Cuomo’s reaction to Trump DOJ charges against Attorney General Letitia James.

In a pointed critique, Zohran Mamdani, the leading Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, has accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo of attempting to curry favor with President Donald Trump following the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James by the Trump Justice Department. This indictment, centered on allegations of bank fraud and false statements, has intensified the already fraught political climate in the state.

Mamdani’s remarks came during a press conference held in Lower Manhattan, where he noted Cuomo’s failure to mention either James or Trump in his public response to the indictment. According to Mamdani, this omission indicates Cuomo’s hesitance, suggesting that his ambitions for the mayoralty are being influenced by wealthy donors connected to Trump. Mamdani expressed concerns about Cuomo’s ability to confront Trump’s influence effectively, questioning how Cuomo could stand firm against the former president if he refrains from naming him in critical discussions.

The relationship between Cuomo and James has been tumultuous. James, whose office previously investigated Cuomo for multiple allegations of sexual harassment—claims the former governor denies—also scrutinized his administration’s handling of nursing home fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fallout from these investigations led to Cuomo’s resignation in 2021.

Cuomo, who shares significant financial backing from a network that overlaps with Trump’s donor base, has been actively courting conservative voters since Mayor Eric Adams exited the race. In response to Mamdani’s attacks, Cuomo emphasized the wrongness of politicizing the justice system, asserting that this applies regardless of political alignment. He pointed to the indictment of James as a manifestation of this politicization, paralleling his experiences with alleged political motivations behind federal inquiries into his administration.

The Justice Department’s charges against James detail accusations of misleading a financial institution concerning her real estate investments in Norfolk, Virginia. The indictment claims she misrepresented her intentions for a purchased property, which allegedly resulted in a financial benefit of approximately ,000 over the course of her mortgage.

At the press conference, Mamdani characterized the indictment as a “miscarriage of justice,” surrounded by other prominent leaders, including Speaker Adrienne Adams, who rallied support for James. Adams commended Mamdani for amplifying the voices of women of color in leadership roles, pointing to James’s resilience against Cuomo’s narrative.

While Mamdani has taken a firm stance against Cuomo, Mayor Adams has taken a more reserved position, choosing not to directly critique the indictment against James. Instead, he called for the legal process to unfold while reflecting on his own past entanglements with allegations of corruption, which were ultimately dismissed.

As the political landscape continues to evolve in New York, the tensions between these prominent figures highlight the intersections of justice, governance, and political strategy that will undoubtedly shape the upcoming mayoral race and beyond.