AG James' thoughts on the Knicks going to the White House
New York Attorney General Letitia James at City Hall before the Knicks parade on Thursday. Credit: Newsday/Matthew Chayes
New York Attorney General Letitia James wouldn't say whether the Knicks should go to the White House to meet with President Trump.
"I will defer to them," she said inside City Hall, hours before the Knicks are awarded the keys to the city.
But would she go?
"The answer is yes," she said.
Even under the current president?
"I want to make sure that whatever I do is in the best interest of New York," James said. "If it involved getting some additional resources, yes, or if it involved maybe him withdrawing from one of his illegal and unconstitutional executive orders, yes."
Should the Knicks boycott?
"That is their personal prerogative, because, you know, in their contract — they have autonomy over their own bodies. And therefore, if they decide not to go, I would respect that."
"How about this? Before they go to the White House, they should call me. I've got an entire list."
Did she think the Knicks would win?
"I had some doubt. But I'm a believer," she said. "And the story of JB really resonates with me, People who counted him out, who said he was too small, too short, and here he is a champion. And that really is the story for countless number of individuals who have been told that they should get back and get in line."
She added: "And I was told that as well."
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
'A million years isn't enough' NewsdayTV goes behind the scenes of the day Rex Heuermann was sentenced for the Gilgo killings.
