Mayor Eric Adams refuses $4 million in public funds for re-election campaign

Eric Adams has been denied millions of dollars of public money for his re-election bid – dealing a major blow to the embattled mayor’s campaign as candidates line up to challenge him. guilty pole,

New York City’s Campaign Finance Board ruled Monday morning that Hizzoner’s campaign will continue Should not be eligible, at least not yet, for more than $4 million in public matching funds – e.g. his war chest is Subject of federal and city investigations.

Matching funds provide candidates with $8 for every dollar donated by New Yorkers, up to the first $250.

An already packed field of Democratic candidates lining up to challenge the incumbent mayor is anxiously awaiting the decision.

the city is short of funds Re-election is a tough task for AdamsWho is already facing a landmark criminal case in federal court.

CFB President Frederick Schaefer said, “I should note the first payment date, and it is not unusual for many candidates to be ineligible at this time.” “Candidates who have been refused payment today have the right to appeal that decision.”

“The board does not generally explain its payout decisions publicly, however, because the circumstances are unusual in a public interest rate settlement, we have determined it is appropriate to be transparent with the public,” Schaefer said.

He said, “The Board has determined that there is reason to believe that the Adams campaign has engaged in conduct detrimental to the matching funds program in violation of law, including the Campaign Finance Act and Board rules.

Schaefer said in the autumn that the agency would begin a review of the mayor’s current campaign after he was convicted in September.

Schaefer said, “Although the Mayor is presumed innocent until proven guilty and is entitled to due process, the Board will review all relevant information to maintain our City’s campaign finance rules and protect taxpayer dollars.” , including, but not limited to, prosecution.” Time.

The CFB has flagged money received between July and October last year as suspicious, with a third of it potentially invalid as scrutiny of the mayor’s donations has increased, According to the news outlet, City.

It also noted several irregularities in his 2021 campaign, which the board could use to deny him matching funds this time.

City officials and the Southern District of New York are investigating the mayor’s first campaign for City Hall, accused of improperly bundling thousands of people’s donations as part of multiple straw donation schemes.

The mayor was convicted of federal corruption charges in connection with those campaign finance matters.

He is scheduled to go on trial in April, which, if proven innocent, will give him only a few weeks to make his case to voters without any cloud of corruption.

However, the campaign was still over $3 million Records show it was in hand after its last filing in October.