The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for May 30, 2025
New York City Mayor Eric Adams had his bribery and corruption charges dropped by the U.S. Department of Justice under questionable circumstances in April. Because of those charges, the New York State Campaign Finance Board denied Adams matching campaign funds. Adams is now suing to get those funds.
Mayor Adams was accused last December by the Biden DOJ with taking campaign donations from foreign nationals and businessmen, allegedly using “straw donors” to make them appear as legitimate donations. He was also accused of doing favors in exchange for luxury travel and attempting to conceal those transactions.
We reported in February that the DOJ dropped bribery and corruption charges against Adams, after Adams visited Trump at Mar-a-lago. An apparent Trump directive to drop the charges to the DOJ’s Southern District of New York resulted in the resignations of seven experienced prosecutors.
As a result of the corruption charges and paperwork omissions, the New York Campaign Finance Board denied Adams $4 million dollars in matching funds for his campaign from the state’s taxpayer-funded campaign finance option. Now that the charges have been dropped, Politico reports that Adams – now an independent candidate – is now suing the board to recover $3.4 million dollars of those denied funds. The Campaign Finance Board will reportedly revisit Adams eligibility for funding in July.
Find our past reports on the accusations against Adams at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Department of Justice – New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Campaign Finance Offenses
Brennan Center for Justice – New York City Campaign Finance Board Denies Mayor Eric Adams Public Matching Funds; Brennan Center Reacts
American Democracy Minute – Trump Fires Office of Government Ethics Chief Monday; Hours Later, DOJ Drops Campaign Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
Politico – Eric Adams sues Campaign Finance Board for denying him millions in matching funds
NY Daily News – Mayor Adams sues NYC Campaign Finance Board for $3.4 million in denied funds
NYC Campaign Finance Board – Finance Reports – Eric Adams
Groups Taking Action:
Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause NY, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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