Judge in Blakeman's armed citizen deputy case fumes over request to delay deposition

A Nassau judge sharply questioned County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s lawyers Tuesday after they asked to delay the county executive’s scheduled deposition in a lawsuit over his armed volunteer deputy program until after the Nov. 3 gubernatorial election.

Blakeman’s legal team and lawyers representing Nassau Democratic Legis. Debra Mulé and Scott Davis, who filed a lawsuit in February 2025 that challenged the legality and purpose of the program, agreed in June for the county executive to be deposed on Friday, according to court records.

But in a letter filed with the court late Monday, Blakeman’s legal team said scheduling the deposition before the election is an attempt to aid the Republican’s Democratic opponent, Gov. Kathy Hochul.

"Plaintiffs’ insistence on deposing the opposition party’s candidate for Governor barely three months before Election Day, in a case with no trial date and no urgency of any kind is not case management," Blakeman attorney Joshua Liebman wrote in the letter. "It is a blatant and transparent political campaign tactic."

Liebman also characterized the lawsuit as politically motivated. 

State Supreme Court Justice Gary M. Carlton appeared doubtful — and irritated — about Blakeman’s request during a hearing on Tuesday morning in Mineola. The judge pointed out that Liebman had agreed to the Friday deposition just a few months ago.

"If you had a problem," Carlton asked Liebman, "why did you sign the stipulation?"

It's unclear when Carlton is expected to issue a ruling. 

Attorneys for the legislators said Blakeman’s request is another attempt by the county executive’s team to keep the litigation from advancing. Mulé and Davis, who are both up for reelection in November and are suing Blakeman in their capacity as private Nassau residents, have already been deposed in the case.

"This case is long delayed," said Joshua Kelner, one of the attorneys representing Mulé and Davis, "and that puts the public in danger."

Attorneys for both parties declined to comment following Tuesday’s hearing on the lawmakers' lawsuit.

Blakeman rolled out his plan for "provisional special deputies" with a March 2024 notice in Newsday, seeking private citizens with gun licenses who would help authorities protect human life, government buildings, hospitals, houses of worship and other property during emergencies.

Blakeman's opponents have questioned why Nassau requires the special provisional deputies when there are more than 3,000 trained sworn police officers working with the Nassau County Police Department and other agencies. Opponents of the plan have raised questions about the vetting, training and qualifications of the volunteer deputies.

The lawsuit argues that the Blakeman administration violated general municipal law by using public funds and resources to create the provisional special deputies program without authorization from the county legislature.

During her deposition, Mulé acknowledged that the lawsuit has been "very good politically for us" and cast her and Davis’ lawsuit as an attempt to score political points for Hochul, Liebman said in his letter to Carlton. At Tuesday’s hearing, he told the judge the lawmakers are working with the Hochul campaign to use the deputies program to hurt Blakeman’s gubernatorial bid, calling them "a stalking horse for a third party that looks like Hochul."

Hochul campaign spokesperson Ryan Radulovacki said in an emailed statement to Newsday: “ '100% MAGA’ Bruce Blakeman formed an armed MAGA militia in Nassau County that reports only to him, not local law enforcement, stocking it with political loyalists, people with criminal records, and his own nephew — voters on Long Island and across New York are going to hold him accountable for putting their safety at risk.”

Liebman said the lawmakers are also using coverage of the lawsuit in Newsday and other media outlets as "leverage" against Blakeman.

The lawmakers’ lawyers dismissed the allegation, telling the judge that Mulé has had no contact with Hochul’s campaign.