Tuesday 28 June 2022 10:09 PM NYC mayor slams Giuliani for claiming he was punched by grocery clerk trends now
New York City Mayor Eric Adams slammed former mayor Rudy Giuliani for 'using police to carry out [his] agenda' after he had a Staten Island supermarket worker arrested for assault, citing video that he says seems to undermine the former city leader's account of the incident.
'I looked at the video,' Adams said Tuesday. 'I would like to remind former mayor Giuliani that falsely reporting a crime is a crime.'
Adams said not only should Giuliani be investigated for filing a false police report over the alleged assault, but that he's also asked Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell to look into the arrest of ShopRite worker Daniel Gill, 39.
Gill can a be seen on security video patting Giuliani on the back during a campaign stop for Andrew Giuliani, who is running for New York State governor.
He then reportedly says to the former mayor: 'What's up, scumbag?'
New York Mayor Eric Adams called Rudy Giuliani 'irresponsible' for having a supermarket worker arrested for tapping him on the back
Adams called his predecessor 'irresponsible' for 'sensationalizing' the interaction and warned Giuliani that he could be the one investigated next.
In recounting the crime on a Facebook Live feed, Giuliani, who also worked on the 2020 Trump re-election campaign, said Gill's touch 'felt like a boulder.'
'His intent was to cause serious harm,' Giuliani said in a Facebook video. 'I could have fallen and cracked my skull and died.'
ShopRite worker Daniel Gill, 39, seen here touching Giuliani's back during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew
The grainy black and white store security video shows the ex-mayor from behind, a group of people around him. Gill comes in from the bottom of the frame and pats Giuliani on the back.
The former mayor turns as Gill continues to address him as he walks passed and then quickly off screen.
Giuliani said Gill was berating him about 'killing ladies,' a reference to the ex-mayor's pro-life stance.
The ex-city leader said that the blow to the back pitched him forward and nearly knocked him down.
Rudy Giuliani, 78, discusses his encounter with a supermarket worker during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew, who is running for governor
Giuliani was in Staten Island campaigning for his son, Andrew, when he was struck by a disgruntled supermarket worker, upset over the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade
Giuliani said he turned to a retired detective in the group and said, 'Let's get him arrested. Let's make an example out of him.'
Adams wasn't having it. He said that when he saw the video he did not see an assault.
'From what he stated about being punched in the head, felt like a bullet, from what he stated there was a lot of creativity,' Adams said.
