GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa has alleged that deep-pocketed donors attempted to pressure him into withdrawing from the New York City mayoral race, claiming he told them to “stop calling.”
The founder of the Guardian Angels indicated that supporters of former Governor Andrew Cuomo were behind an enticing job offer amid the increasingly chaotic campaign as Election Day approaches.
“There’s no amount of money that will make me exit this race. It’s simply not happening. And if someone approaches me on behalf of Andrew Cuomo or anyone else, I will report it to the authorities,” Sliwa stated during a press conference.
He mentioned that those offering pointed out there were “millions of dollars” available for security jobs, either abroad or in high-risk areas.
Currently, Cuomo, alongside Democratic contenders Zoran Mamdani and Mayor Eric Adams, remains in the race, with polls suggesting that Sliwa and Adams might be the most capable of stopping Cuomo from reclaiming control of City Hall.
Sliwa shared that he received seven calls recently, including one on Wednesday where he was urged to drop out in exchange for a high-profile position.
He insisted he turned down the alleged offer quickly.
“They mentioned financial support for my Guardian Angels initiative and my wife’s animal programs. The proposition was to become a security director with a multimillion-dollar salary, but only if I agreed to withdraw. That seemed very unethical to me. It felt like potential bribery, and so I told them to stop calling.”
Cuomo’s camp firmly denied Sliwa’s accusations, branding him a “liar” and a “con man.” The governor remarked in an interview that Sliwa’s claims were complete nonsense.
“You have to take Sliwa with a grain of salt. He’s known for these kinds of antics,” Cuomo added.
Adams also dismissed Sliwa’s assertions, stating that he wasn’t offered any bribes to exit the competition.
“The only fact about Curtis Sliwa is that he’s a liar,” said Adams, who himself faced corruption allegations that led to his exit from the Trump administration.
Rumors had circulated earlier this month about President Trump potentially finding a role in Adams’ administration if he exited the race, but those prospects appear to have faded.
An insider noted that Sliwa’s candidacy became more visible when it was clear he wouldn’t back down from the contest.
While Adams has yet to officially withdraw from the race, he hasn’t conducted any campaign events in about a week.
