De Blasio: Madoff's death 'not a time to dance on a grave,' but NYers 'were hurt'

Bernie Madoff
Bernard Madoff fraud victims hold a news conference following the sentencing hearing for Madofff, who was convicted for running a multibillion-dollar ponzi scheme, at Federal District Court in Manhattan on June 29, 2009 in New York City. Photo credit Spencer Platt/Getty Images

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio on Wednesday called the late Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme a “very sad episode in the history of this city,” but added that it was “not a time to dance on a grave.”

After a reporter mentioned Madoff’s recent death at de Blasio’s daily briefing Wednesday morning, the mayor said he was “just hearing” about it.

Madoff died in a North Carolina prison at the age of 82 early Wednesday, more than a decade after he received a 150-year sentence for swindling thousands of investors.

“Look, a very sad episode in the history of this city, and a lot of people, unfortunately, were hurt,” de Blasio said.

“The day someone passes is not a time to dance on a grave, but let’s just be honest: Many people were hurt by his actions,” he added. “And it’s time to, hopefully, turn the page and move forward.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images