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Read the press release here.

Public Advocate Slams Mayor for 'Lying' About Goldsmith Resignation

By Tom Liddy | September 2, 2011 4:24pm
Mayor Bloomberg has drawn criticism for not disclosing the arrest of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith ahead of his resignation.
Mayor Bloomberg has drawn criticism for not disclosing the arrest of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith ahead of his resignation.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images

MANHATTAN — Public Advocate Bill de Blasio sent Mayor Michael Bloomberg a scathing letter, slamming him for "lying" about the resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldmsmith, who left office shortly after he was arrested for a domestic dispute in Washington, DC.

The letter's release Friday came hours after the co-host of Michael Bloomberg's weekly radio show, John Gambling, questioned the mayor about the move.

"Your decision to mislead the public and key figures of your own administration - including NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly - about the circumstances leading to Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith's resignation is unacceptable," de Blasio wrote in the missive.

"Given the revelations over the past forty-eight hours, the people of New York City deserve your apology and a thorough accounting."

Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith has resigned from city government.
Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith has resigned from city government.
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The public advocate introduced legislation that would mandate the arrests of city officials outside New York to be reported to the Department of Investigation as are those that occur within the five boroughs.

"Your claim that Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was 'leaving to pursue private-sector opportunities in infrastructure finance' was a misrepresentation of the facts," de Blasio wrote.

"I cannot accept the leader of the City of New York lying to its citizens."

Bloomberg canceled his weekly appearance on "The John Gambling Show," shortly after a report in the New York Post Thursday revealed that Goldsmith had been arrested on July 30.

Goldsmith, the former mayor of Indianapolis, announced that he was stepping down Aug. 4 after just 14 months on the job, a move largely believed to be connected to his botched handling of the Christmas 2010 blizzard.

"I do think that the mayor has made a mistake because he’s gonna have to answer the question," Gambling said Friday morning on WOR. "There’s no way out of it at this point. There's no way out of it."

Gambling, who called the mayor "loyal to a fault" and usually sides with Bloomberg on most issues, appeared to express disbelief at his staying mum on the issue and then ducking the media after the story broke.

"Every reporter in New York City is after him for an answer," Gambling said.

At the time of his resignation, Goldsmith, who Bloomberg had hailed as a "superstar," merely said that he was leaving office to provide "more flexibility for me and my family" and begin his academic work.

The mayor's silence about the alleged domestic dispute drew fire from politicians like Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, who called for Bloomberg and his staff to "give a full accounting of what they knew and when they knew it."

According to a police report obtained by DNAinfo.com, Goldsmith, 64, and his wife, Margaret, 59, got into a verbal dispute that escalated.

During the confrontation, Goldsmith allegedly shoved his wife into a counter.  "I should have put a bullet through you years ago!" his wife yelled at him, according to the report.

Goldsmith also allegedly broke their phone and then grabbed his wife and refused to let her go.

He spent two nights in jail, according to the New York Times

The mayor's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.