Politics

De Blasio Among NY Lawmakers Who Honored Mugabe in 2002

Realized later he made a mistake

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His trysts with tyrants didn't end in Cuba and Nicaragua.

Bill de Blasio was also among the legislators who honored reviled Zimbabwe despot Robert Mugabe at City Hall in 2002 — an event organized by Councilman Charles Barron.

De Blasio was in his first term on the City Council, while Mugabe was already notorious for starving his people, jailing or torturing his political rivals, seizing land from white farm owners and promoting anti-gay policies.

Thirty-six of the 51 council members shunned the event, which included an hourlong lecture by the dictator in the council chambers, followed by a reception.