New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell today broke her silence on several controversies surrounding her.
She lashed out at an investigative reporter and denied allegations of impropriety.
Cantrell insisted she has done nothing wrong living in a city owned apartment.
"The use of the Pontalba. That is provided to the mayor of the city... this has been on the books since the 1800s," the mayor explained. "My use is consistent with that of mayors of the past."
She said her staying there has been "thoroughly vetted relative to the law department."
Cantrell did not offer any legal opinions from the New Orleans City Attorney or anyone else.
When asked about the New Orleans Inspector General investigating the long periods of time she spends inside the residence at the Pontalba with her NOPD body guard, amid allegations they are misusing NOPD funds by paying the officer for his time with the mayor, Cantrell denied any wrongdoing.
"I welcome any investigations that are necessary to ensure that, one, I am always above board and absolutely doing the city's work."
The Mayor does have a problem, however, with an investigation by reporter Lee Zurik.
"It kinda freaks me out to see you," she told him at the news conference. "You've been very inappropriate, in my opinion. But relative to your accusations, none of them add up at all."
She sounded off on the hundreds of hours of surveillance Zurik has of her.
"Your the one who touts having over 680 hours of me, filming me at an apartment, sir that I have; one, the authority to use in my capacity as mayor."
Cantrell told Zurik he has been "in violation of me as a human being."
She then shut him down when he tried to ask follow up questions; talking over him and saying, "Thank you very much. Thank you very much, sir. Thank you. Thank you sir. We know, and thank you very much."
Cantrell also answered a question about allegations from the leaders of the effort to recall her that she has been intimidating and retaliating against them, city workers, businesses and others who support the movement to remove her from office.
"Oh no! First of all, retaliation, that's not who I am. I don't do that."
The mayor says she supports Democracy 100 percent and while the recall organizers are focused on their agenda, she is focused on hers.