The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for July 28, 2025
New York City mayor Eric Adams, who had campaign corruption charges against him dropped by the Trump DOJ in March, may have more alleged campaign finance violations surfacing.
News outlet The City is reporting it found alleged “straw donors” among recent contributors to Adams’ reelection campaign, where a contribution using a voter’s name and address are made, but the actual payment is funded by a third party. The Biden U.S. Department of Justice filed charges against the mayor in September 2024, charging him with taking campaign donations from foreign nationals and businessmen in 2021, allegedly using straw donors.
Mayor Adams met in January with then President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago reportedly pledging not to interfere with immigration enforcement actions in New York City. Trump’s DOJ dropped the corruption charges in April – in an appearance of a quid pro quo deal.
Reporting by The City found 17 recent donors without the obvious means of making substantial donations, no recollection of having made a contribution, and donors whose name and address were used, but had someone else’s credit card and billing address. Those purported donors helped reach the minimums needed to qualify for the City’s 8-1 campaign finance matching program, though that match has so far been denied due to last year’s allegations.
We’ve linked to The City’s story at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Department of Justice (Biden Admin) – (2024) New York City Mayor Eric Adams Charged With Bribery And Campaign Finance Offenses
American Democracy Minute – (2024) NYC’s Embattled Mayor Denied $4.5 Million in Matching Funds from City’s Public Campaign Finance Funding System
American Democrcy Minute – Trump Fires Office of Government Ethics Chief Monday; Hours Later, DOJ Drops Campaign Corruption Charges Against NYC Mayor Eric Adams
The City – New Eric Adams ‘Donors’ Say They Never Gave to His Reelection Campaign
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
Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Want ADM sent to your email? Sign up here!
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #MayorEricAdams #CampaignFinance #StrawDonors