New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that he told President Trump during a phone call this week that federal involvement to quell the escalation of violence in New York City was not necessary and could be “administered by the state, “while acknowledging that he, too, is” concerned “about the increase in crime.
During a conference call Wednesday, Cuomo said he spoke to the president on Tuesday, who said he was considering sending federal agents to New York.
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“I spoke to the president about it. I said I was also concerned about the increase in crime in New York City, ”Cuomo explained. “I also said that, at this point, I think the situation can be handled by the state. Fully prepared to do that. “
Cuomo said he told the president that “there was no need” for federal involvement, but that if the federal government “had concerns about federal assets that should be protected,” it is “more than willing to protect any federal assets.”
Cuomo added: “We dropped the conversation in case the president had additional concerns, we would talk before taking any action.”
Cuomo explained that Trump expressed “concern” about the crime in New York City.
“People in New York are concerned about crime. The state is willing and able to do what it has to do, “Cuomo said, while noting that” it is under the jurisdiction of the state. “
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“The city is a creature of state law, and the state understands the Constitution of the United States,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo’s comments come just hours after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to sue the Trump administration if federal assets were sent to the city to help alleviate the unrest.
De Blasio, during a press conference on Wednesday, said the federal government seems “obsessed” with intervention in the city when city officials don’t want help.
“Across the country, people are distressed, but the president’s deep and unwavering desire to send agents across the country where they are not needed,” de Blasio said, calling it “unproductive.”
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De Blasio criticized federal intervention in cities like Portland, Oregon, as “unconstitutional.”
“It’s dangerous,” de Blasio said, noting that the administration is setting a “dangerous precedent for sending federal officials” and “doing work they shouldn’t be doing.”
“We cannot allow it here in New York City or anywhere else,” he continued. “I want to be very, very clear that we will not allow this to happen.”
De Blasio said he sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and Attorney General Bill Barr “clarifying” that the presence of federal officials “is not welcome here.”
“We are New Yorkers and we will not take lightly if we see federal officials in New York City,” he said. “If we do, we will be in court.”
De Blasio’s comments come as President Trump has threatened federal intervention in cities across the country as he sees an increase in violent crime and riots in recent weeks and months.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany criticized de Blasio on Tuesday and cited a “600 percent increase in violence” in the city, while offering federal support.
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“De Blasio appears to have no difficulty criticizing police officers, but it is very difficult to control the streets of New York City,” he said.
Last week, Trump compared Democrat-led cities to “war zones,” hinting that a federal intervention could come.
The president said that “the left-wing group that runs the cities is not doing the job it is supposed to do.”
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to announce an expansion of the Justice Department’s “Operation Legend” program that is running in Kansas City. Trump, later Wednesday, will announce that the operation will extend to Chicago and Albuquerque.
