City Comptroller Brad Lander shockingly suggested that Mayor Eric Adams is in government files related to notorious pedophile Jeffrey Epstein — drawing a furious response from City Hall Thursday.
Lander’s evidence-free jibe unfolded during an NY1 interview Wednesday evening focused on conditions in 26 Federal Plaza, where advocates have complained about “inhumane treatment” at an ICE facility.
Noting that Adams, who has generally been reticent to criticize President Trump, joined the uproar, Lander appeared to speculate as to why.
“I have heard some people say maybe the mayor is in the Epstein files and he’s just trying to distract,” Lander said with a smirk.
Lander’s out-of-nowhere jibe drew a howl of disbelief from NY1 host Errol Louis.
“If you’ve got evidence, I’m sure you’ll bring it forward,” Louis dared.
The stunning non sequitur drew an angry retort from City Hall spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak, who lambasted Lander in harsh terms.
“This defamatory filth is a pathetic comment from a pathetic man and exposes Brad Lander for what he is: a desperate politician whose entire relevance revolves around smearing Mayor Adams,” Mamelak said in a statement.
“The mayor will continue to deliver for New Yorkers and do what he and most people in this city usually do — ignore Brad Lander — but the comptroller should immediately and emphatically apologize to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, whom Brad Lander has no problem re-victimizing and making a punchline.”
Trump, Republicans and the wider MAGA movement have been in an internal conflict over the release of the “Epstein files,” a grab-bag term for government records related to the sexual predator.
The president, a one-time friend of Epstein, has shocked many of his supporters by dismissing concerns and interest in the case after his Attorney General Pam Bondi decided to limit further disclosures.
“I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is — I really don’t,” Trump said of Epstein, who was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019, while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Democrats such as Lander, who recently was arrested while vocally protesting masked ICE agents hauling away an immigrant, have seized upon the uproar as a cudgel against Trump.
Lander has also been a persistent thorn in Adams’ side, mounting a failed bid for the Democratic mayoral nomination and teaming up with socialist Zohran Mamdani, the ultimate winner of the primary and Hizzoner’s main opponent in the November general election.
When asked for further comment on the Epstein diss, Lander’s team brushed off his taunt.
“Obviously, the comptroller was joking,” said a comptroller spokesperson.
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