Mayor Bill De Blasio Sticks Up For Aide Amid Controversies
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio got into a testy exchange with the media Monday while defending one of his aides.
Rachel Noerdlinger, the first lady Chirlane McCray's chief of staff, failed to report on a city background check that she was living with her boyfriend, who has been convicted of drug trafficking and manslaughter, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.
Noerdlinger also received a waiver to live in New Jersey, citing her son's need to be near his doctors there due to a pair of serious car accidents in 2012. Her son played high school football last year.
"She got the waiver for a variety of reasons, and it was done appropriately," de Blasio insisted.
When asked if the city should take another look at the waiver, de Blasio said he didn't think it was necessary, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported.
The mayor then took a swipe at the media.
"People are going more and more -- and not just this case, but in many, many other cases -- into people's boyfriends, girlfriends, children, aunts, uncles," de Blasio said. "This does not have to do a lot with public service. She's a good public servant."
At another point, the mayor said, the city's Department of Investigation found Noerdlinger had no intent to deceive, and quickly ended his answer with "case closed."
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