Mayor de Blasio had a secret lunch with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders last month, City Hall confirmed.
De Blasio and Sanders — who is vying with the mayor’s old boss Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president — met for the private powwow in New York, City Hall press secretary Karen Hinton said.
The meeting between the two Progressives was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
It was not listed on the mayor’s public schedule.
Speaking on CBS 880 radio Tuesday, de Blasio said Sanders initiated the get-together.
“Of course I’m going to respond to that request,” he said.
“I think he’s a very impressive person.”
Although he has declined to endorse his old boss Clinton — saying he needs to know more on her positions — he did say Tuesday that he has a “ton of respect for her.”
De Blasio said he was “very impressed” with the Democratic field for the White House, but balked when asked whether Vice President Biden should enter the race.
“I think the candidates we have now are sufficient,” he said.
De Blasio has said he wants all of the candidates to come to a presidential forum he’s hosting in the battleground state of Iowa to discuss their ideas.
