Bill de Blasio: Hillary Clinton doesn't need to release Wall Street transcripts
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton doesn't need to release transcripts of her paid speeches to Wall Street companies, giving her cover on the issue from a progressive ally.
"My blunt view is that I care what she says in her platform," he said when asked about the issue on MSNBC. "Her platform would rein in Wall Street excesses more even than Bernie Sanders's would. A lot of progressives have said that."
De Blasio, who served as Clinton's campaign manager for her 2000 Senate race, ran for New York City mayor on a progressive platform and has been working to bring progressive issues to the attention of the national Democratic Party. After initially staying neutral during the first six months of the primary, de Blasio finally endorsed Clinton in October.
The issue of Clinton's speeches to Wall Street firms, many of which were closed-door and could bring in more than $200,000 each, has been used in recent weeks as she faces off against Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary.
Sanders, who has made Wall Street reform a cornerstone of his campaign, sharpened his attacks on Clinton's Wall Street ties this year. During a debate in early February, shortly after Clinton's narrow Iowa caucus victory, suggested money from the financial sector may have influenced her policy positions. "That is what goes on in America," Sanders said. "There is a reason why these people are putting huge amounts of money into our political system." The New York Times editorial board, in late February, also called on her to release the transcripts.
Asked during the same debate whether she would consider releasing the transcripts, Clinton said she would "look into it."