Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign for mayor simply ignored auditors’ demands for explanations of the sources of its funding, newly released documents show — giving a glimpse behind the scenes of how the city Campaign Finance Board came to decide this week to deny public funding to his reelection bid.
No Explanations
Adams’ team did what they had done repeatedly in the past with CFB: they simply didn’t answer the question.
Audit Demands
In its post-election audit of Mayor Eric Adams’ 2021 campaign, records released Tuesday to THE CITY under the Freedom of Information Law show the panel demanded that the campaign explain more than 150 events that appeared to be free fundraisers paid for by unknown individuals.
Non-Response
Adams’ campaign attorney, Vito Pitta, just pretended the question wasn’t asked in his response to the CFB.
CFB’s Decision
Declaring that the campaign likely “engaged in conduct detrimental to the matching funds program,” board chair Frederick Schaffer emphasized that the campaign “also failed to provide documents and information requested by the Board.”
Councilmember’s Perspective
“The campaign fails to provide the most basic information to the Campaign Finance Board’s questions in this post-election response because there are no good answers,” Councilmember Lincoln Restler, D-Brooklyn, who’s frequently criticized the mayor’s fundraising actions. “The Adams campaign has apparently committed fraud repeatedly, so there are no answers that they can provide to assuage the CFB’s concerns without implicating themselves.”
Adams’ Track Record
Adams’ track record of non-compliance with campaign finance rules is longstanding, and highlighted in his September indictment.
Straw Donations
Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. attorney allege that in both the 2021 and 2025 campaigns, Adams and his team solicited and accepted illegal “straw donations,” in some cases from foreign sources tied to the Turkish government.
CFB’s Review
A review by THE CITY found a long history of Adams’ simply ignoring the CFB’s requests for explanations about dubious donations, including many the campaign submitted as eligible for matching funds. Records show that in the 2025 campaign, CFB has to date deemed nearly one-third of all matching funds claims Adams’ requested to be invalid.
Conclusion
The denial of public funding to Mayor Eric Adams’ reelection bid is a significant setback for his campaign, and a clear indication that the city’s Campaign Finance Board is committed to upholding the integrity of the city’s campaign finance laws.
FAQs
Q: What was the basis for the CFB’s decision to deny Adams’ request for public matching funds?
A: The CFB’s decision was based on the campaign’s failure to provide documents and information requested by the Board, and its likely engagement in conduct detrimental to the matching funds program.
Q: What were the specific issues with the campaign’s funding?
A: The campaign failed to explain the sources of funding for over 150 events, and ignored CFB’s demands to provide information about possible straw donations and suspected intermediaries.
Q: What is the impact of this decision on Adams’ campaign?
A: The denial of public funding is a significant setback for Adams’ campaign, which had submitted claims for $4.3 million in matching funds. The campaign will need to rely on private donations to fund its reelection bid.
Q: What does this mean for the city’s campaign finance laws?
A: The CFB’s decision demonstrates its commitment to upholding the integrity of the city’s campaign finance laws, and serves as a warning to other campaigns that non-compliance will not be tolerated.
