Eve is here. This post outlines the indictment against New York City Mayor Eric Adams for bribery and misuse of campaign funds. This brings to light a point where I have to confess that I was wrong in reading the mainstream media coverage (and this article, which is less than accurate, has helped others come to similar conclusions). (suggests that the person was led to reach this point).
My first impression was that Adams used donations from Tolkier to illegally obtain $10 million in matching funds. The New York City program will match $8 for every donation (!!!) of less than $250 by New York City residents.
I thought the match was only 1-1, not the amazing 8-1. This was a big motivation to find ways to make large donations look like collections of smaller donations.
Another, and more important, point is the nature of the $10 million of these matching funds that Adams is accused of obtaining illegally. As is often the case, I believe that these matching funds were obtained in connection with donations from Turkiye sources, whether Turkiye-based or members of the Turkiye community in New York City. I was thinking. Recall that Adams is also charged with receiving illegal gifts, specifically travel, from Tolkier sources.
By chance, I discovered that what I thought was $10 million in Tolkien-related donations was a ridiculous amount. Even with a better understanding, I found that 1/8 from Tolkier’s friend was still a significant amount.
The lawsuit identified only $26,000 in illegal donations to Tolkier. Let me tell you, that’s still bad, but it’s not even $1.25 million, which many readers who understand campaign finance laws might guess.
In fact, the lawsuit identifies that Adams only received approximately $5,000 through fake microdonors in connection with his donations to Tolkier. However, plaintiffs are allowed to plead facts that they expect to be proven in discovery.
So once the Justice Department has its roots in campaign records and interviews with many of the members of Adam’s team who have been indicted or investigated, the Justice Department will likely find out that many other cooperating donors and Mr. and Mrs. I believe this will shake up the evidence of the mechanism behind this. The campaign split large donations and gave through straws to get matching funds. The indictment alleges that the scheme involved (potentially many) U.S. participants, and that Adams not only had knowledge of it, but also helped direct it.
Written by Alyssa Katz. It was first published in The City on September 29, 2024
The grand jury indictment against Mayor Eric Adams, which began with a staggering $10 million, made headlines, dominated cable news programming, and prompted the New York Times Editorial Board to say: demand his immediate resignation.
This is money that Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams claims was wrongfully obtained by Adams “as a result of false certifications” made by him and those working for him regarding compliance with campaign finance regulations. are. According to the indictment, the campaign knowingly accepted contributions from foreign donors that were smuggled in through U.S. donors. They then apply for matching funds with a portion of this funding, a New York City taxpayer-funded program that provides $8 for every $1 raised in city resident contributions up to $250. was deceived.
Many readers of the grand jury indictment concluded that the Turkish donations at the heart of the indictment netted Mr. Adams $10 million. However, this number is actually the entire amount of matching funds awarded to Adams’ 2021 campaign by the City Campaign Finance Commission, exceeding the $8.9 million his campaign has raised in personal funds. .
How much did Adams actually earn from Türkiye?
The indictment lists about $26,000 in allegedly illegal foreign contributions, not including matching funds sought by the campaign. Adams attorney Alex Spiro leads the charge to be thrown out As “not an actual case.”
But the small size of the donation does not mean Mr. Adams is innocent of serious charges involving campaign aides and foreign donors. Mr. Williams’ focus on that $10 million sum speaks to the appalling and far-reaching effects of the Adams campaign’s abuse of the public funding system, but it also reflects the Turkish case documented in this criminal case. It is not limited to only.
city found multiple instances People listed in Adams’ campaign reports say they did not donate and had no knowledge that anyone had used their identity to donate. And a circle of Adams supporters have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. another scheme.
So, how much money did Adams actually receive as matching funds from donations from Turkey?
While specific details are too scarce to be certain, public records show the amount tracked is less than $5,000 for both the 2021 and 2025 campaigns.
New York City’s public matching funds program is considered a national model and has steadily become more generous over the years. The 2021 election, won by Adams, introduced for the first time both an $8 to $1 contest (up from $6 to $1) and a $2,100 per donor limit (down from $4,950). Former Mayor Bill de Blasio pressed for changes. follow himself campaign fundraising scandal.
This program is designed to get huge amounts of money from local politics. The indictment alleges that the Adams campaign subverted that goal by disguising donations from foreign nationals, who are prohibited by federal law from making any contributions, as small donations. The Adams campaign listed some of that money as coming from New Yorkers and then unlocked public matching funds.
How far did the deception go?
Adams campaign representatives have previously admitted ignorance about the straw donations, but the actual source of the donations was hidden and the campaign submitted the names of others to the Campaign Finance Committee.
faced earlier this year When the city submitted evidence of straw donations to Adams’ re-election campaign, Adams’ campaign attorney Vito Pitta said, “Donors may participate in straw donation activities without the campaign’s knowledge.” It’s a common occurrence,” he said.
Pitta added: “No one in the campaign has ever participated in or condoned such conduct and will never do so.”
The indictment alleges that Adams not only knew that some of the funds were actually coming from Turkish sources, but also authorized those donations to be channeled through Americans to disguise them. There is.
The full details of the plan may not be known. However, the Turkish indictment documents Mr. Adams’ personal knowledge and alleged involvement in directing the straw donations, and it is possible that Mr. Adams was at least aware of other schemes as well. The outlook is increasing.
How personally involved was Adams?
The indictment lays out clearly how Adams and his aides allegedly made deliberate efforts to obtain foreign donations and straw donations while attempting to cover their tracks. .
The document shows that Adams personally persuaded his assistant, Lana Abbasova, to work with Turkish nationals who were funneling money to Adams’ mayoral campaign, despite being informed that such donations were illegal. This shows evidence that he was giving instructions. Traveling in Turkey.
According to the indictment, Adams also explained the matching funds program to a Brooklyn businessman at a dinner with the Turkish consul general. The businessman continued to give $1,250 to 10 employees, directing them to donate at Adams’ fundraising parties.
In yet another alleged scheme, Mr. Adams approved a plan to collect donations from a Turkish university president through a straw donor in the United States. Donations made after Adams was already a Democratic candidate were refunded by his campaign.
Donations of straw did not come only from Turks and foreigners. The indictment describes another plan that Adams campaign workers asked local residents about. Uzbek-American business leader The company donated $10,000 and directed employees to donate $2,000 in five installments to the 2021 Adams campaign. Its leaders paid compensation to employees and then obtained assistance from Mr. Adams personally to obtain permission to proceed with construction after the safety violations, according to court filings.
Why didn’t the Campaign Finance Commission stop this?
Those donations, and many more apparent straw donations, passed through the city’s campaign finance commission, which issued $10 million in matching funds, but an audit of Adams’ 2021 campaign has not yet been completed. Not yet.
The board has about 50 people working on enforcement and had to process a record number of more than 500 candidates for the 2021 City Council, Comptroller, Public Hearings, and Mayor elections.
The Commission’s powers to stop illegal exploitation are limited, particularly when campaigns effectively conceal the activity. Its staff relies on representatives from campaigns and may refuse to provide matching funds or even rely entirely on public funds if documentation does not show that the donor is eligible. Yes, but litigation can drag on for years. For example, Queens City Council candidate Served 18 months in federal prison Crimes related to the 2010 straw donation scheme that were not actually Excluded from matching funds program Until this year.
In fact, the Campaign Finance Commission first flagged the Turkish university illegal donation group mentioned in the October 2021 indictment as a “suspected intermediary.” The board then asked the campaign to explain who put together the donations. Campaigns are required to provide information on a regular basis. However, the Adams camp has consistently refused to identify the intermediary.
And it hasn’t happened yet. The draft audit of the 2021 campaign, issued by the Board in May 2024, continues to seek answers to the same questions.
Meanwhile, Williams’ indictment provided a shocking answer.
Could there be more illegal donations to Adams’ campaign?
yes.
Adams’ 2021 filings with the Campaign Finance Committee contain questionable details, including a false address, a group of co-workers matching matching donations, and the widespread use of money orders in place of typical credit card donations. It was full of claims about funding.
Campaign too Most of the intermediaries are not disclosed. They asked who provided the donations to the organization and argued that they were not required to do so, citing technicalities in the regulations.
