NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Mayor Bill de Blasio has had multiple allegations of corruption and ethical breaches since the beginning of his first term in office but has never been faced any charges or been formally accused of a crime, according to a report from the Daily News.
Claims of misuse of his NYPD security detail to accusations of granting business favors to real estate developers in exchange for money towards his campaign and other causes.
“It is really shocking to see how much de Blasio has been able to get away with, and it bodes very poorly for New York City,” said John Kaehny, executive director and founder of Reinvent Albany, a good government group active in the city. “You’re reminded that there are still so many things that are dysfunctional and corrupt in New York.”
The mayor was accused of using the NYPD to drive his son back-and-forth to his college in Connecticut and moving his daughter out of her apartment. He is also accused of using his NYPD detail for picking up relatives at the airport.
Earlier this month, de Blasio was able to legally block the release of a Manhattan court ordered unsealing of two confidential letters sent by the Conflicts of Interest Board to the mayor in 2014 and 2018 citing that he repeatedly violated city ethics law by soliciting thousands in political donations from companies with business for them for over two years before his administration.
The letters also noted that de Blasio’s solicitations happened despite the three warnings issued by the board saying his actions were violating conflict of interest laws meant to safeguard against “coercion and improper access” to City Hall.
A report from the city’s Department of Investigation also concluded de Blasio used almost $320,000 in public funds to have his security team and campaign staffers travel with him across the country during his attempted bid for the 2020 presidential election.
The COIB ruled that de Blasio must reimburse taxpayers for the campaign expense, something he has yet to do, claiming he had the right to bring along his NYPD detail on the trail and that he is still appealing the board’s decision.
“The guidance I have received is from the NYPD,” de Blasio said about his use of the police detail in October.
Related
