Bill de Blasio, former mayor of New York City, has agreed to pay a $329,794 penalty to resolve allegations brought by the city’s ethics panel, which accused him of improperly using public money to fund his security team’s travel during his brief attempt to secure the Democratic nomination for president.
The resolution, announced Wednesday by the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board, marks the largest settlement ever reached by the board. Although the original fine totaled $475,000, officials said the amount was reduced based on de Blasio’s “financial situation.”
As part of the settlement, de Blasio consented to withdraw his legal challenge to the board’s original ruling. He also acknowledged—publicly for the first time—that he had been warned in writing that the city should not pay for his security detail’s travel outside New York during the campaign.
“In contradiction of the written guidance I received from the Board, I did not reimburse the City for these expenses,” de Blasio admitted in the agreement. “I made a mistake and I deeply regret it.”
The case involved nearly $320,000 in costs for airfare, accommodations, and meals for the NYPD officers assigned to protect him while he traveled the country campaigning in 2019. An additional $10,000 fine is included in the agreement.
The presidential bid, which lasted only a few months, drew criticism and ridicule from many New Yorkers who felt de Blasio had abandoned his mayoral responsibilities in pursuit of national office.
According to the terms of the deal, de Blasio must immediately submit $100,000 and then continue with quarterly payments of around $15,000 over the next four years. If he fails to pay on time, the full $475,000 amount will be reinstated.
A spokesperson for the Conflicts of Interest Board said that the payments will ultimately be returned to the city’s general fund.
When reached for comment, de Blasio’s lawyer, Andrew G. Celli Jr., declined to make a statement about the settlement.
In the past, de Blasio had claimed that requiring him to pay the travel costs of his protective detail was a violation of his First Amendment rights, arguing it placed a heavier burden on public servants without personal wealth compared to affluent political contenders. Since concluding his term as mayor in 2021, de Blasio has taken on university teaching roles and delivered paid lectures abroad, including recent speaking engagements in Italy.
{Matzav.com}
