NYC Mayor Adams rips into ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo over bail reform: ‘You’re going to have to answer these questions’

Mayor Eric Adams is throwing jabs in the already crowded field for the Democratic primary — but is focusing on a candidate who hasn’t even entered the race: Andrew Cuomo.

“People who are running — they’re going to have to take claim for the stuff that they did when they were holding office,” Adams told Politico in a sitdown interview published Monday.

“Who was there for the original bail reform? Who signed some of these procedures? You’re going to have to answer these questions,” he said, when asked how he would run against the former governor.

Mayor Eric Adams took shots at potential Democratic primary rival ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo over bail reform laws he signed while in office. Paul Martinka

Adams told the outlet that he plans to informally kick off his re-election campaign, which has yet to even launch a website, by going on the offensive — and targeting the controversial bail reform signed into law by Cuomo in 2019.

The three-term Democratic governor — who resigned in August 2021 in the face of sexual misconduct claims, which he denies — has long been rumored to be eyeing a political comeback.

Sources have said he could attempt a return to political life by challenging Adams for the Democratic nomination in June, seeing a path to City Hall as Hizzoner fends off a number of corruption probes, low poll numbers and a historic indictment.

Sources have said Cuomo has been uninterested in challenging Adams but would step in if he was forced from office or resigned.

Cuomo is reportedly considering a run for New York City mayor. Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post

The former governor has been working behind the scenes with his supporters to lobby business interests and try to gain favor in the black and Jewish communities. But so far, Cuomo has yet to join the race, with political pundits saying each week it could happen any day.

Those in Adams’ camp, though, appear to fear a Cuomo challenge, with the campaign drumming up plans to attack the former gov, despite more than half a dozen challengers already having announced a run in the primary, including city Comptroller Brad Lander, former city Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Sens. Jessica Ramos and Zelnor Myrie and state Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

“This is all premature,” Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi responded to Adams’ remarks in a statement to Politico.

“But it’s worth noting that in 2023, Mayor Adams dismissed the bail reform debate as a ‘bumper sticker’ slogan, and endorsed Kathy Hochul’s bail reform package,” he said. “Every campaign is an assessment of a candidate’s ability to manage and to match their rhetoric with their performance to improve the lives of New Yorkers and prove they can get things done.”