The $10 Million Figure that May Not Be as Large as It Seems
The grand jury indictment of Mayor Eric Adams has captured headlines and prompted the New York Times editorial board to demand his immediate resignation. The indictment alleges that Adams improperly obtained $10 million from a campaign finance program by submitting false certifications about compliance with campaign finance regulations. However, a closer look at the indictment reveals that the actual amount of money received from Turkish donors is much smaller than the reported $10 million.
The Small Size of the Donations
The indictment lists about $26,000 in allegedly illegal foreign contributions, not counting matching funds the campaign sought. This amount is significantly lower than the reported $10 million. The small size of the donations does not mean that Adams is innocent of the serious charges, which implicate campaign aides and foreign donors as well.
The Matching Funds Program
The New York City public matching funds program is designed to get big money out of local politics. The program provides matching funds to candidates who receive small donations from city residents. The indictment alleges that the Adams campaign subverted this purpose by disguising donations from foreign nationals as small donations from New Yorkers. The campaign then applied for matching funds, bilking the program out of millions of dollars.
The Deception
Adams campaign representatives have pleaded ignorance when it comes to straw donations, where the actual source of the contributions is hidden from view. However, the indictment alleges that Adams knew that some funds came from Turkish sources and approved of routing those donations through U.S. people to disguise them. The indictment presents evidence of Adams personally directing an assistant to work with Turkish nationals who sought to funnel money to the Adams mayoral campaign.
The Investigation
The Campaign Finance Board is responsible for enforcing the city’s campaign finance laws. However, the board’s power to stop illegal exploitation is limited, especially where campaigns effectively cover up their actions. The board relies on representations from campaigns, and while they may refuse to give matching funds where paperwork does not show a donor qualifies, or even pull the plug entirely on public funding, cases can drag out for years.
Conclusion
The investigation into the Adams campaign’s fundraising practices has uncovered a web of deceit and illegal activity. While the reported $10 million figure has captured headlines, a closer look at the indictment reveals that the actual amount of money received from Turkish donors is much smaller. However, the seriousness of the charges and the allegations of Adams’ personal involvement in the scheme make it clear that this is a significant scandal.
FAQs
Q: What is the reported $10 million figure?
A: The reported $10 million figure is the total amount of matching funds granted to the Adams campaign by the city Campaign Finance Board.
Q: How much money did the Adams campaign actually receive from Turkish donors?
A: According to the indictment, the Adams campaign received about $26,000 in allegedly illegal foreign contributions, not counting matching funds the campaign sought.
Q: What is the significance of the matching funds program?
A: The New York City public matching funds program is designed to get big money out of local politics. The program provides matching funds to candidates who receive small donations from city residents.
Q: How did the Adams campaign subvert the matching funds program?
A: The indictment alleges that the Adams campaign disguised donations from foreign nationals as small donations from New Yorkers and applied for matching funds, bilking the program out of millions of dollars.
Q: Has anyone already admitted to making straw donations to Adams?
A: Yes, in two separate criminal cases.
