Tony Herbert, a senior City Hall aide and friend of Mayor Adams, was fired this week after claiming on social media that the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk amounted to “karma,” the Daily News has learned.
Tony Herbert, a perennial political candidate who has served as a community affairs staffer in Adams’ office since February 2022, made the incendiary comment about Kirk in a video posted Thursday on Facebook.
After alleging that Kirk, a controversial Trump supporter known for organizing young voters, has been pushing racist talking points, Herbert said in the video that “unfortunately karma has come to collect” in reference to Kirk being shot to death while speaking on college campus in Utah the day before.
On Friday, Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak confirmed Herbert had been terminated after posting the video. She also said Herbert has been on leave for an unspecified period of time leading up to Thursday’s video.
“We unequivocally denounce these remarks, which in no way reflect the values of the Adams administration,” Mamelak said of Herbert’s comments. “As Mayor Adams said yesterday, political violence has no place in our city or in our nation, and it’s time we all turn down the temperature and stand united against hate. Charlie Kirk was a passionate young man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this trying time.”
Herbert, who has known Adams for decades, didn’t immediately return calls and texts.
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