By: Russ Spencer

A political firestorm erupted Thursday after New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, without offering any evidence, speculated during a televised interview that Mayor Eric Adams might be named in sealed government documents related to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The baseless comment, delivered with a smirk on NY1 Wednesday night, was immediately condemned by City Hall and has drawn widespread scrutiny for its apparent trivialization of an ongoing scandal involving the exploitation of minors.

According to a report that appeared in The New York Post, Lander’s remarks came during a segment on the conditions at 26 Federal Plaza, where activists have denounced what they describe as “inhumane treatment” of detainees at a federal ICE facility. The interview, intended to focus on immigrant advocacy, took an abrupt turn when Lander attempted to explain why he believed Adams had weighed in on the issue.

“I have heard some people say maybe the mayor is in the Epstein files and he’s just trying to distract,” Lander stated, grinning slightly as he delivered the stunning allegation. His remark prompted immediate disbelief from NY1 host Errol Louis, who responded sharply: “If you’ve got evidence, I’m sure you’ll bring it forward.”

The backlash was swift and fierce. As The New York Post reported, City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak issued a scathing statement late Thursday, characterizing Lander’s insinuation as a defamatory and politically motivated attack.

“This defamatory filth is a pathetic comment from a pathetic man and exposes Brad Lander for what he is: a desperate politician whose entire relevance revolves around smearing Mayor Adams,” Mamelak declared. “The mayor will continue to deliver for New Yorkers and do what he and most people in this city usually do — ignore Brad Lander — but the comptroller should immediately and emphatically apologize to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, whom Brad Lander has no problem re-victimizing and making a punchline.”

The Epstein files — a loosely defined collection of court records, government documents, and sealed materials tied to Epstein’s extensive criminal activities and relationships with powerful figures — have remained a subject of public fascination and political controversy. As The New York Post has reported, calls for the full release of these materials have grown louder in recent years, particularly from advocates for Epstein’s victims and transparency watchdogs. Yet the debate has often been clouded by political intrigue and conspiracy-laced commentary.

Lander’s decision to invoke the Epstein scandal in the context of a discussion about city policy and immigration enforcement drew particular condemnation for conflating serious allegations of abuse with political sniping. While Epstein, who died under mysterious circumstances in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, was known to have socialized with numerous high-profile figures — including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump — there has been no publicly available information linking Adams to the financier’s affairs.

Nevertheless, The New York Post reported that Lander’s spokesperson attempted to downplay the remark as a moment of levity. “Obviously, the comptroller was joking,” the spokesperson said, declining to elaborate further or address the criticisms from City Hall.

The episode marks the latest escalation in a long-simmering feud between Lander and Adams.  Lander — a vocal progressive and frequent critic of the mayor’s centrist policies — has positioned himself as a standard-bearer for the city’s left wing. He was arrested earlier this year while protesting ICE operations and has closely aligned himself with Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who recently defeated Adams in the Democratic primary and is now seen as the frontrunner in the upcoming mayoral election.

Lander’s political ambitions and combative rhetoric have made him a recurring antagonist in Adams’ administration. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the comptroller not only challenged Adams in the Democratic primary but has also partnered with several left-wing groups to challenge his budget priorities and immigration enforcement strategies.

In the context of the broader political landscape, the controversy underscores how the Epstein scandal — and the secrecy still surrounding many of its key documents — continues to function as a political Rorschach test. While Democrats such as Lander have seized upon it to criticize Republicans and Trump-era policies, others have expressed dismay at its use as a rhetorical weapon divorced from the gravity of the underlying crimes.

Adding to the complexity is the posture of President Trump himself, who was once photographed socializing with Epstein and has since drawn criticism for downplaying interest in the case. As The New York Post report noted, Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi limited further public disclosures of Epstein-related materials. Trump has since commented dismissively, stating, “I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is — I really don’t.”

Amid this backdrop, Lander’s flippant invocation of the scandal to target a political rival struck many observers as tone-deaf and irresponsible. Though the comptroller has not retracted the statement, the growing chorus of condemnation — particularly from within city government — has intensified pressure on him to apologize.

For now, the incident has injected further acrimony into New York City’s already contentious political environment and cast a renewed spotlight on the divisive tactics employed in the battle for control of City Hall. As The New York Post report indicated, the path to November’s general election promises to be fraught with not just ideological differences, but deeply personal and increasingly provocative attacks.