Eric Adams’ re-election hopes took successful Monday when the Marketing campaign Finance Board (CFB) declined to approve greater than $4 million matching funds to the mayor months after his indictment on federal public corruption fees.
NYC Mayoral Images Unit
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Eric Adams’ re-election hopes took successful Monday when the Marketing campaign Finance Board (CFB) declined to approve greater than $4 million matching funds to the mayor months after his indictment on federal public corruption fees.
The CFB’s determination got here Monday following a unanimous vote of the six-person panel on approving matching funds for certified candidates who met the board’s standards for this cycle. CFB Chair Frederick Schaeffer defined that the board decided Mayor Adams was ineligible for matching funds “at this time” as a result of it suspects a “reason to believe the Adams campaign has engaged in conduct detrimental to the Matching Funds Program and in violation of law — including the Campaign Finance Act and board rules.”
Vito R. Pitta, Adams’ marketing campaign counsel, expressed disappointment within the CFB’s denial on Monday, however mentioned it will “continue to work with the board to address any issues so that funds can be appropriately disbursed.” He additionally famous that the Adams marketing campaign “continues to have far more resources than his opponents, and we are very confident we will have the support we need to spend the maximum amount allowable in the upcoming primary.”
The New York State Board of Elections notes that Adams nonetheless has in extra of $3 million in contributions available.
Schaeffer mentioned that the CFB’s determination in opposition to Adams got here after the panel reviewed “all available information, including the details of the indictment against Mayor Adams.”
Mayor Eric Adams provides a thumbs up after his arraignment on Sept. 27, 2024.Photograph by Dean Moses
Hizzoner grew to become the primary sitting mayor in New York Metropolis historical past final September to be criminally indicted, standing accused of accepting unlawful international donations and utilizing them to unlawfully get hold of matching funds from the CFB’s program for his in the end profitable 2021 mayoral election.
“His campaign also failed to provide documents and information requested by the board,” Schaeffer mentioned towards the top of the transient Dec. 16 assembly during which the choice was introduced. “Accordingly, Mayor Adams’ campaign for re-election has failed to demonstrate eligibility for public funds payment at this time. Our priority remains achieving an equitable and transparent democracy that is accountable to all New Yorkers.”
Since his indictment, Mayor Adams has denied any wrongdoing and has recommended the prosecution is political in nature. The case is scheduled to go to trial in April.
Schaeffer’s explanatory assertion, he famous, was extraordinary in that the CFB usually doesn’t present a public rationalization on its funding selections. On this case, with such “unusual circumstances” and nice public curiosity relating to Adams’ re-election effort, he mentioned the board “determined that it is appropriate to be transparent with the public with respect to the campaign of Mayor Adams.”
No fewer than seven people have emerged to problem Mayor Adams within the 2025 Democratic major: Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, former Metropolis Comptroller Scott Stringer, state Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jessica Ramos, Meeting Member Zohran Mamdani, former Meeting Member Michael Blake and lawyer Jim Walden.
Solely Stringer was authorized Monday to obtain matching funds; the CFB will present him with $2,088,571. So far, Stringer had raised $587,416, with 89.4% of donations coming from small donors.
Candidates are eligible to obtain 8-to-1 matching funds in the event that they meet sure funding thresholds and correctly submit varied filings to the CFB, corresponding to statements of wants or types from the Conflicts of Curiosity Board. The CFB conducts month-to-month releases of marketing campaign funds every cycle, so those that are ineligible now can nonetheless obtain matching funds down the highway in the event that they meet {qualifications} and submission necessities.
