| | | | |  | | By Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman | |  Under Damian Williams' leadership, his office secured a 16-count corruption conviction against Sen. Bob Menendez, a case that Williams called "classic corruption." | Peter K. Afriyie/AP | With help from Rich Mendez NEW YORK MINUTE: The New York City Council today plans to submit its “advice and consent” question for the November ballot. It likely won’t work, as Mayor Eric Adams’ new Charter Revision Commission plans to submit its own questions later this month and preempt the council. Lawmakers have grumbled that the mayor’s move is a political ploy, but they are powerless to stop it. “THE OFFICE WAS BUZZING”: Even for the storied “Sovereign District” of New York, Tuesday was a massive day — and a counterpoint to arguments about politicized prosecutions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York secured a 16-count corruption conviction against Sen. Bob Menendez, a Democrat. Less than three hours later, the office got a financial fraud conviction against Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui, an associate of Republican strategist Steve Bannon whose defense became a cause célèbre for the right. “Having these cases all be brought to a conclusion at the same time was really like an exclamation point on a really momentous period of time for the office,” the office’s leader, Damian Williams, said in an interview with Playbook. “The office was buzzing. It was really great to see.” And at a time when former President Donald Trump is all but accusing President Joe Biden of pulling the strings in the Department of Justice, Williams thinks the Menendez case could counter “a lot of cynicism.” “It doesn't matter that Senator Menendez is a Democrat, and I was appointed by a Democrat,” the 2021 Biden appointee said. “It matters whether or not a crime took place. It matters whether or not we could prove it.” That conviction was also a huge relief for prosecutors at a time when the Supreme Court has systematically narrowed the very meaning of government corruption, as POLITICO’s Erica Orden reports. The Menendez case, after all, was “a clear case of classic corruption, the kind of corruption that the law has always prohibited, and the type of corruption that the law will always prohibit,” Williams said. On that point, political players are keeping an eye on Williams’ case against former Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin — which the Democrat’s legal team argues should be dropped, after a recent Supreme Court ruling and the key witness’s death. And Williams stayed mum on even indirect questions about his office’s investigation touching Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, and Turkish foreign influence. But Williams has made clear he takes foreign influence in politics seriously — Menendez’s conviction on a charge of being an unregistered foreign agent was entirely unprecedented. As a Biden appointee, Williams’ time in the office would almost certainly end with a Trump win. “I can't control the future, and so I don't spend much time dwelling on it,” he said about that. “But SDNY is incredibly busy. Maybe even historically busy.” — Jeff Coltin IT'S THURSDAY. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
| | | | The CNN-POLITICO Grill has quickly become a key gathering place for policymakers and thought-leaders attending the RNC in Milwaukee.
On Tuesday, POLITICO and Bayer convened two conversations: a discussion with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and an executive conversation with Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications.
The conversations focused on the news of the day in Milwaukee, including deeper discussion centered on the critical challenges faced by the agriculture sector.
CATCH UP HERE | | | | | WHERE’S KATHY? Participating in a Capitol Confidential fireside chat with the Times Union’s Dan Clark, then appearing as a guest on Bloomberg TV and Univision 41. WHERE’S ERIC? Appearing as a guest on "PIX11 Morning News", 1010 WINS’ “Morning Drive," NY1’s “Mornings on 1" and Fox5’s “Good Day New York.” Then he will deliver remarks at a funeral service for NYPD Officer Edgar A. Ordoñez. In the afternoon he will speak at the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin World Health Congress and a flag-raising ceremony for Colombia. After that, he will appear Live on Fox5’s “The 5 O’Clock News." QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Councilwoman Zhuang has been a great partner to the New York City Police Department for a long time. But actions today, of assaulting one of our police officers, a deputy chief, by biting him viciously in the arm, I can’t explain it right now.” — NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, POLITICO reports, on Susan Zhuang’s arrest while protesting against a homeless shelter.
|  | ABOVE THE FOLD | | | | 
Rumors emerged that Rep. Adam Schiff's call for Biden to step down was orchestrated with Rep. Nancy Pelosi, but former Rep. Steve Israel says that "verges on conspiracy theory." | Tom Brenner/Getty Images | SCHIFF ON BIDEN: Former Rep. Steve Israel, who is close with California Rep. Adam Schiff, roundly dismissed the notion that Schiff’s call for Biden to withdraw is a move choreographed with Rep. Nancy Pelosi. “This theory that he did this because Nancy Pelosi orchestrated it, I think, verges on conspiracy theory,” Israel of Long Island told Playbook in an interview. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Biden tested positive for Covid-19, and it emerged that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had told the president directly that he’s concerned about his reelection. House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also recently met privately with Biden. Israel, who formerly chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, hosted the Hamptons fundraiser where Schiff had initially warned that he believes down-ballot Democrats would suffer losses with Biden as the presidential nominee. “It was spontaneous what he said. He’s being honest. It ends up irresponsibly getting leaked,” Israel said of New York Times’ coverage. Schiff went on a day later to become among the highest-ranking Democrats yet to call on Biden to leave the top of the ticket, releasing a statement to the Los Angeles Times. “While the choice to withdraw from the campaign is President Biden’s alone, I believe it is time for him to pass the torch,” the congressman running for Senate said Wednesday. “A second Trump presidency will undermine the very foundation of our democracy, and I have serious concerns about whether the President can defeat Donald Trump in November.” Schiff’s proximity to Pelosi has sparked speculation that the influential former House speaker wants to give cover to Democrats hoping Biden will drop his reelection bid. A Schiff spokesperson would not say if he cleared his statement with her. And Israel refutes Pelosi’s involvement, adding to Schiff’s remarks about Biden, “He owned it.” — Emily Ngo
| | CITY HALL: THE LATEST | | | | 
A PAC run by Christian pastor and Adams ally Al Cockfield donated $1,000 to Baton Rouge, La., mayoral candidate Ted James last week. | Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office | A BETTER … BATON ROUGE? The Striving for a Better New York PAC that Adams fundraised for back in 2021 continued to donate to candidates outside of New York, according to the latest filing with the state Board of Elections. The PAC donated $1,000 to Baton Rouge, La., mayoral candidate Ted James last week. It also gave Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens $3,300 in June. The PAC run by Christian pastor and Adams ally Al Cockfield also reported local contributions to Assemblymembers Landon Dais and Eddie Gibbs, who were facing tough primaries last month. Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn’s leadership PAC got the largest donation, of $25,000. Cockfield declined to comment. The PAC reported $173,303 on hand. — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — Outgoing FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanaugh explained why she’s leaving: “Life is short. No place has taught me that more profoundly than the FDNY.” (Medium) — Council member Gale Brewer plans to introduce a bill that would require Adams to release reports detailing cannabis enforcement activities. (Daily News) — Friends and family remember Eric Garner on the 10th anniversary of his killing. (Gothamist)
| | NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY | | | 
Albany County District Attorney David Soares has Former Republican Rep. John Sweeney's support in his race. | Tim Roske/AP | SWEENEY FOR SOARES: Former Republican Rep. John Sweeney is all in on Democratic Albany County District Attorney David Soares’ uphill write-in campaign. The Republican’s support for Soares is another example of how the debate over criminal justice law changes in New York has scrambled the politics over public safety. Sweeney, who is serving as a swing-state adviser with Trump’s campaign, helped raise money for Soares’ unsuccessful Democratic primary last month against Lee Kindlon. And with Soares staying in the race, Sweeney is sticking by the 20-year incumbent. Soares was first elected in 2004 opposing the Rockefeller Drug Laws. But he has since become a vocal critic of measures that limit cash bail and divert juvenile offenders to an alternative court system — provisions that he has said exacerbate crime. Sweeney is marshaling support for Soares, which he said has translated to “thousands of dollars” in campaign donations he’s helped raise. “My feeling on it is here’s a guy in the middle of this fire and he’s taken the right positions on principle,” Sweeney, who represented a Capital Region House seat from 1999 to 2007, told Playbook. “When that happens we need to support him.” The former lawmaker has had an eventful career. He was called “Congressman Kick-Ass” by former President George W. Bush after playing a role in the 2000 Florida recount. He lost a closely watched reelection in 2006 to now-Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. In 2016, Sweeney worked on Trump’s presidential campaign in New York. Sweeney was on hand Wednesday when Soares announced his plan to run a write-in campaign against Kindlon, who has the backing of prominent Democrats in Albany County. Soares has liabilities beyond a policy debate, including the controversy over a pay raise he granted himself. He returned the money following public outcry. And Kindlon’s campaign was scratching its head at Soares’ strategy of winning support from Republicans. Democratic voters dominate Albany County. “David needs to make up his mind whether he’s a Democrat or a Republican,” said Kindlon spokesperson Libby Post. “One of the top Republican operatives and a former Republican congressman is fundraising for him.” — Nick Reisman CLIMATE PROTEST: Demonstrators will gather outside Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in Midtown today after state lawmakers declined to approve a measure to curtail the expansion of natural gas and the governor shelved the unpopular congestion pricing toll plan. Environmental organizations had wanted both the toll program and the natural gas proposal – known as the NY Heat Act – to address climate change. Hochul announced her opposition to congestion pricing in June, weeks before it would take effect, citing ongoing cost-of-living concerns from New Yorkers. — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — A judge on Long Island temporarily blocked a law that would limit how much outside income state lawmakers can earn. (Gothamist) — The implementation of a law meant to address climate change has been flawed, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s office found. (POLITICO Pro) — Speaker Carl Heastie was not pleased when the lobbyist he is dating was laid off. (NYS Focus)
| | | | Understand 2024’s big impacts with Pro’s extensive Campaign Races Dashboard, exclusive insights, and key coverage of federal- and state-level debates. Focus on policy. Learn more. | | | | | | | KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION | | | 
Former Rep. Lee Zeldin spoke at the RNC where he focused on foreign policy and praised Trump for not starting new wars. | Jason DeCrow/AP | SCHEDULING NOTE: Rep. Marc Molinaro is set to be in Milwaukee today for the Republican National Convention, arriving just in time for Trump’s marquee speech. The upstate Republican had skipped the first part of the week’s events to spend time with his family. Syracuse-area Rep. Brandon Williams, another battleground Republican, meanwhile, is sticking to his plans to stay in his district for local events in lieu of attending his party’s nominating convention. — Emily Ngo ZELDIN LOOKS OVERSEAS: Former Rep. Lee Zeldin turned his focus to foreign policy on day three of the Republican National Convention Wednesday. Zeldin, the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2022 who came within 6 points of upsetting Hochul, a Democrat, gave a careful address that praised Trump and blasted Biden. The address straddled the competing forces within the Republican Party: An aggressive presence overseas versus a more isolationist approach. Zeldin praised Trump for being a president who “ended wars without starting new ones” and policies like moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and negotiating the Abraham Accords. And he questioned the incumbent president’s abilities — taking a dig at the questions swirling over the 81-year-old’s ability to do the job. “We can’t rely on Biden to make the 3 a.m. decision,” Zeldin said. “We can’t rely on him at 3 in the afternoon.” — Nick Reisman
| | NEW YORK STATE OF MIND | | —The Brooklyn Democratic Party finally used its campaign funds — but it spent against fellow Democrats in district leader races, rather than Republicans. (Hell Gate) — Madeline Brame provoked boos at the RNC by slamming Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s handling of her son’s killers’ cases, but her account left out key elements of what actually happened. (Daily News)
| | SOCIAL DATA | | Edited by Daniel Lippman MAKING MOVES: The Adams administration announced REBNY VP Reggie Thomas has been hired as chief of staff to First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Chauncey Parker is now assistant deputy mayor for public safety, Correction Department spokesperson Frank Dwyer is now chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy and Katherine Maro has been promoted to first deputy chief of staff under Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. MEDIAWATCH: Ryan Tillman is now the booking producer for Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.” He most recently was the booker for Fox’s “America Newsroom.” HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Coinbase’s Julia Krieger … Carol Ross Joynt … NBC’s Gadi Schwartz … Fox Business Network’s Jackie DeAngelis … Varun Anand … Michael Luongo … Reid Davenport … Britta Towle … Lauren Rubinov … Omar Kasule Missed Wednesday’s New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here. | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
