According to a Wall Street Journal report, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's recent action towards the arrest of a Brooklyn-based bishop and political ally earned criticism by former state officials and good governance groups. Collectively, they have expressed that de Blasio was abusing his power as mayor and that his concern for his political ally was inappropriate.
Bishop Orlando Findlayter, who is a member of the inaugural committee of the current mayor of New York, was arrested at a traffic stop on Monday for failure to appear in court related to outstanding warrants in relation to an immigrant protest he participated in Manhattan.
WSJ said a local clergy organization called the New York Police Department, and news of the bishop's arrest was tipped off to de Blasio. De Blasio reportedly called New York Police Department Deputy Chief Kim Royster, which resulted to Findlayter avoiding a night in jail courtesy of the release by 67th precinct's commanding officer Deputy Inspector Kenneth Lehr on grounds that Findlayter has a desk appearance ticket.
Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's corporate counsel Michael Hess, said the action was unheard off during Guilani's term. He said, "It never happened to me. I never called anybody and I don't believe Mayor Giuliani ever called anybody. It's not something that I have heard of. You don't just not want impropriety but you also don't want the appearance of impropriety."
Even supporters of the current New York mayor appeared to be not pleased about his intervention. Fellow Democrat and supporter, and New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer said, "I think that the mayor shouldn't be involved in any way when someone gets arrested. It's something that, it can only be problematic."
On the other hand, other interest groups lauded de Blasio's quick action, said WSJ. NYPD Captains Endowment Association president Roy Richter, who represented Lehr, said that he personally spoke with the officer who released Findlayter and said that the police officer made a good, well-reasoned decision.
