Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears on FOX 5’s “The Five O’clock News

December 23, 2024

Bianca Peters: Also, before this news broke, FOX 5's Morgan McKay sat down exclusively with Mayor Adams to reflect on his past year in office. He even touched on several big topics, including the indictment against him. Here's Morgan with more.

Morgan McKay: Well, thank you so much, Mr. Mayor, for being here today. I really appreciate it. 

So, let's just start out with the, you know, top news of the day. Reportedly, the man who set the woman ablaze, killing her, was a migrant. Is that something you can confirm? And what's your reaction to that?

Mayor Eric Adams: I'm getting briefings from the Police Department, but it appears as though he was a migrant that was removed from the country and then came back into the country. 

Yes, this is a country of immigrants. It's a country of those who want to seek to pursue the American dream. But those who violate that pursuit, we need to immediately remove them from our country. After they served their time, I don't want to turn them back into a country just to have them sneak back in and the family members are not receiving justice for what happened.

McKay: Now, you have said that one of the reasons why you're facing five federal charges is because of your criticism of the Biden administration for their handling of the migrant crisis. Has someone told you that? What sort of evidence do you have that led you to believe this?

Mayor Adams: We have witnessed constant leaks that was coming from, what we believe, only those that would have been known by the federal government. And I strongly believe that this had a lot to do with my clear defending this country.

McKay: Now, your lawyer filed a letter today saying that because of these alleged leaks, that they are worried about you getting a fair trial. Are you also worried about that?

Mayor Adams: Yes, I am. You know, because remember, where do we pick our jury from? We pick our jury from the public. And to see some of the things that have come out, of some of them is just not true. 

McKay: If President-elect Donald Trump offers you a pardon, will you take it? 

Mayor Adams: I'm seeking justice. I should not have been charged. I have done nothing wrong. Whatever avenue that's available for us to pursue justice, we're going to do just that.

McKay: Over the weekend, NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey abruptly resigned after he was accused of demanding sex from a subordinate in exchange for overtime. 

What were your reactions when you learned of some of these allegations over the weekend?

Mayor Adams: A series of allegations and, you know, very troubling. And they have to be investigated accordingly. And that is what the police commissioner is doing and any other entity is going to do.

McKay: Maddrey was accused this time of sexual misconduct, but he's been accused of misconduct in the past and you have defended him. Do you regret that at all?

Mayor Adams: I've never defended any accusation of any inappropriate behavior. I've never defended that. I defended his police record. He has had an exceptional police record on dealing with public safety, community building, throughout the years in Brooklyn North, where he spent a lot of his career. Those are the knowns. I cannot defend or speak on the unknowns.

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