While much of Randy Mastro’s contentious confirmation hearing before the New York City Council on Tuesday focused on his years as a deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani, lawmakers also assailed the King & Spalding partner over his aggressive litigation style and the controversial clients he represented over nearly three decades in private practice.
Through eight hours of at-times acrimonious cross-examination by council members, Mastro, Mayor Eric Adams’ nominee for New York City Corporation Counsel, was grilled over his work for clients that include Chevron, former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and property owners who waged legal battles to challenge New York State’s COVID-19 eviction moratorium and weaken New York City’s rent-stabilization laws.