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Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has accused Andrew Cuomo's campaign of attempting to bribe him to exit the New York City mayoral race. During a press conference on Wednesday, Sliwa claimed that Cuomo's campaign and unnamed intermediaries offered him millions of dollars to withdraw. According to ABC7NY, Sliwa stated, "That's the way they talk, 'Come on, Curtis, everybody has their price.' Curtis Sliwa doesn't have a price."
Sliwa declined to provide names but insisted that the bribery attempts were real, claiming that several billionaires allied with Cuomo were involved. He further warned that he would record any future bribery attempts and report them to authorities. NY1 reported that Sliwa has no plans to file a formal complaint with the city's Campaign Finance Board.
Cuomo's campaign swiftly denied the allegations, with spokesman Rich Azzopardi calling Sliwa "a liar and a fraudster" and dismissing the accusations as a publicity stunt. Mayor Eric Adams, also mentioned in Sliwa's claims, rejected the allegations, labeling Sliwa a "clown" and emphasizing his focus on delivering results for New Yorkers.
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani expressed trust in Sliwa's word over Cuomo's, stating that New Yorkers deserve to choose their leader without outside influence. Yahoo News reported that Mamdani sided with Sliwa, highlighting the need for a democratic process free from interference.
As the mayoral race continues, the accusations add tension to an already heated contest, with Sliwa's claims drawing significant attention and skepticism from various quarters.
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