NEW YORK (PIX11) – Mayor Eric Adams allegedly stole public funds from New York City by using illegal donations he obtained for his 2021 mayoral campaign to manipulate the city’s matching funds program, according to a federal indictment.
New York City’s matching funds program matches small-dollar campaign contributions from individual residents with up to eight times their amount in public funds, federal prosecutors said.
“The matching funds program is intended to incentivize candidates to finance their campaigns by engaging with average New Yorkers, instead of seeking large contributions from a limited number of influential donors, and to empower more candidates to run for office, even without access to wealth,” the indictment states.
The indictment accused Adams of accepting illegal campaign contributions through “straw” donors and using these donations for New York City’s matching funds program.
Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10 million in public funds from the city’s matching funds program due to the alleged scheme, prosecutors said.
The allegations are part of an indictment unsealed Thursday that charged Adams with bribery, campaign finance and conspiracy offenses.
“The indictment unsealed today alleges that Mayor Adams abused his power and position for nearly a decade, obtaining personal benefits and illegal campaign contributions from foreign nationals, and others, giving them undue influence over him. As charged, this illegal conduct compromised his integrity as an elected official and New Yorkers expect better,” said Jocelyn Strauber, the commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation.
Adams also allegedly pressured the FDNY to facilitate the opening of a foreign government's skyscraper in Manhattan that hadn't passed a fire inspection, according to the indictment.
Adams is also accused of trying to cover up the improper benefits that he allegedly received, prosecutors said.
"By allegedly taking improper and illegal benefits from foreign nationals — including to allow a Manhattan skyscraper to open without a fire inspection — Adams put the interests of his benefactors, including a foreign official, above those of his constituents," U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
Adams vowed to fight against the indictment and said he does not plan to resign.
“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” Adams said Thursday. “My day-to-day will not change. I will continue to do the job for 8.3 million New Yorkers that I was elected to do.”
Finn Hoogensen is a digital journalist who has covered local news for more than five years. He has been with PIX11 News since 2022. See more of his work here.
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