NYC Mayor Eric Adams is suing Donald Trump to get better $80.5 million the administration withdrew following a tweet from Elon Musk.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams has filed a lawsuit in opposition to Donald Trump and different people in his administration searching for to get better $80.5 million the federal authorities withdrew from a metropolis checking account with out permission.
The funds have been initially permitted by Congress and earmarked for immigrant companies, Politico report. Nevertheless, the cash was clawed again by the Trump administration on February 11, the day after Elon Musk criticized the funding on social media.
Musk sparked controversy when he tweeted that FEMA had illegally despatched $57 million for “luxurious motels in New York Metropolis to deal with unlawful migrants,” as a substitute of utilizing it for American catastrophe aid. He known as it a violation of the regulation and “gross insubordination to the President’s government order.”
Nevertheless, the funds got here from a DHS program meant to reimburse native governments for non-citizen immigrant companies, not catastrophe aid. The cash was used for lodging on the Roosevelt Resort in Midtown Manhattan at a FEMA-approved price, not for luxurious lodging.
Regardless of Musk’s deceptive claims, the Trump administration fired 4 FEMA officers answerable for the fee.
NYC alleges that the Trump administration violated federal legal guidelines, grant phrases, and laws in reversing the switch.
The town is asking for the cash to be restored and for the administration to be prevented from comparable actions sooner or later.
This authorized motion marks a uncommon occasion of public opposition to Trump from Adams, who had beforehand prevented criticizing the president.
Eric Adams’ Relationship With Donald Trump Faces Scrutiny
The lawsuit comes amid controversy surrounding Adams’ relationship with the Trump administration and his personal federal corruption case.
A federal decide has reportedly indefinitely adjourned the trial, which was initially scheduled for April 21. Choose Dale Ho has not dismissed the costs in opposition to Adams, leaving the federal corruption indictment in place.
Adams appeared in courtroom on February 19 for a convention with Choose Ho. The mayor denied any quid professional quo association influencing the Division of Justice’s choice to dismiss the case.
A number of prime federal prosecutors resigned fairly than conform to drop the costs in opposition to Adams.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul introduced she wouldn’t train her energy to take away Adams from workplace and imposed “guardrails” on Adams.
Critics recommend the dismissal request could also be linked to Adams aiding with Trump administration priorities on immigration enforcement.