Latest news with #FreedomofInformationLaw
New York Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Anti-Trump DA Alvin Bragg sure acts like he has something to hide — we're suing to find out
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg holds potentially hundreds of communications appearing to link his office to senior Biden administration officials and other political actors in connection with his unprecedented criminal prosecution of then-former President Donald Trump. We've asked for those records, and he's not turning them loose. So we're taking him to court. Last September, America First Policy Institute launched a formal investigation into the people and motivations behind Bragg's decision to prosecute Trump. Advertisement Our effort had a simple goal: figuring out whether Bragg's case was a routine legal probe — or lawfare, a politically engineered hit job orchestrated to influence the 2024 election. The charges brought against Trump were extraordinary. Never before has a question of federal campaign-finance law — which the FEC declined to pursue, no less — been morphed into a state-level misdemeanor, already time-barred under New York law, then Frankensteined into a felony by alleging it was committed to conceal some other crime never defined by the prosecution, nor unanimously agreed upon by jury. Advertisement Confusing? That's the point. Bragg's office thrives on obfuscation. Public records should be accessible. Criminal prosecutions should be transparent. This case was neither — and still isn't. We were drawn to investigate because we saw just too many coincidences to ignore. Michael Colangelo, a top DOJ official with a focus on white-collar crime, left his Biden administration post to join Bragg's office just months before Trump was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Advertisement Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over Bragg's prosecution, had a history of political donations to Biden and to political groups opposed to Trump, the defendant before him. He was officially 'cautioned' on that by the state ethics board. Merchan's daughter Loren worked on Kamala Harris' 2020 campaign and during Trump's trial served as president of Authentic Campaigns, a progressive political consulting firm hired by the Biden-Harris ticket. It all paints a curious picture: A DA who campaigned on a promise to take down Trump, aided by a Biden DOJ veteran, bringing legally contorted charges before a judge with clear partisan connections. Advertisement If this wasn't coordinated, it's one lucky political pile-up. The American people deserve answers. In pursuit of those answers, and in defense of the public's right to know, AFPI submitted a request to Bragg's office under New York's Freedom of Information Law in September 2024. We sought any records that could shed light on whether political influence or coordination played a role in Bragg's decision-making. Our request was specific, lawfully submitted and directly tied to one of the most consequential legal proceedings in modern American history. Ten months later, no records have been produced. None. Though they apparently exist. Instead of providing transparency, the DA's office has engaged in delay, double-talk and silence. We've asked for a list of responsive documents. They won't give one. Advertisement We've asked which of our specific requests the withheld documents pertain to. They won't say. We know, based on our investigation and his office's limited correspondence with us, that the DA possesses hundreds of records of communications with or about political agents who should have had no influence in a 'routine' prosecution, like Lauren Merchan's Authentic Campaigns. Bragg refuses to explain why the public isn't entitled to see them. There is no legal justification for this blackout. No privilege excuses total stonewalling. Advertisement There is only evasion. It's been nearly a year. The records exist, and the DA cannot explain why they remain secret. That alone should raise alarms. AFPI has now turned to the courts to compel compliance. The law does not permit selective transparency by the Manhattan DA. It does not allow politically sensitive cases to be shielded from scrutiny. Advertisement As the New York Legislature declared when it passed the state's open-records law in 1977, 'The people's right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents leading to determinations is basic to our society.' We agree. Advertisement That's why on July 17, AFPI filed its petition in New York County Superior Court requesting that Bragg's records, whatever they may reveal, be released to the public. The law demands openness, and we intend to see it enforced. Jessica Steinmann is executive general counsel and Jack Casali is an attorney at the Center for Litigation at the America First Policy Institute
Politico
4 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
Cuomo returned 60 sketchy donations
With help from Amira McKee Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign immediately flagged and refunded a tranche of apparent straw donations in March — and now there's a 'law enforcement investigation' related to his campaign, according to official documents. On March 30, the Cuomo campaign reported receiving 57 separate donations from people with Chinese names who listed their occupation as 'unemployed.' Every donation came from the ZIP code 11354 in Flushing, Queens, and all the contributions came in multiples of 10, between $10 and $60. The contributions were, to put it bluntly, extremely sketchy, and carried some hallmarks of straw donations — an illegal practice where campaign contributions are made in another person's name. The campaign refunded every one of them the next day, plus three more similar contributions from people who listed their occupation as 'venerable' and shared the address of the Western Buddhist Association, a temple in Borough Park, Brooklyn. In total, the campaign gave up just $1,280, though it could have garnered up to $10,240 more in public funds if the donations were matched. One of the refunded contributions was from Chang Kuan of the Western Buddhist Association. Just three weeks after the campaign rejected the donation, Cuomo sent out a press release touting Kuan's endorsement with other faith leaders. The association didn't respond to a request for comment. It isn't clear whether those donations are under investigation. A letter from the New York City Campaign Finance Board in response to Playbook's routine Freedom of Information Law request for its communications with the Cuomo campaign suggested the existence of a probe, though. 'Some records are being withheld because they were 'compiled for law enforcement purposes and ... if disclosed, would ... interfere with law enforcement investigations....'' the letter read, quoting state law about what records are exempt from public disclosure. Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said the campaign did the right thing, and quickly. 'It appears the correspondence being withheld relates to online contributions submitted to the campaign that were immediately flagged by our internal compliance as being improper, refunded within 24 hours, and disclosed to the CFB,' Azzopardi said in a statement. 'Subsequently, we had follow up communications with the CFB about those contributions. To the extent that there is a law enforcement review, we are neither aware of nor party to it and refer you back to CFB for any further questions.' The CFB declined to comment. And the district attorneys offices for Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn all said they couldn't confirm or deny the existence of any related investigations. The Cuomo campaign has received scrutiny for other practices unrelated to potential straw donors. The CFB withheld some public funds from the campaign while it investigated possible coordination with pro-Cuomo super PAC Fix the City. On May 30, the board said the investigation would continue. The campaign has denied wrongdoing. The Cuomo campaign's quick action is first being reported here in Playbook just days after THE CITY reported on another instance of potential straw donors to Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 campaign. Adams has been dogged by such accusations, which featured in his federal indictment that was later dropped. He has denied knowingly taking any illegal contributions and defended his compliance team Thursday. 'We follow all rules,' he said. — Jeff Coltin From the Capitol UPROAR AT HOCHUL'S REDISTRICTING FLIRTATION: Republicans are up in arms about Gov. Kathy Hochul's comments Thursday suggesting she may move to redraw New York's congressional lines in response to Trump-led efforts to redraw the maps in GOP-dominated Texas. 'New York's State Constitution could not be more clear: mid-decade redistricting is illegal,' state GOP Chair Ed Cox said in a statement. 'Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats are again ignoring the law as they telegraph their latest attempt to rig our elections.' On Thursday, Hochul told reporters she and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will consider redrawing New York's maps after President Donald Trump's allies successfully pressed Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month to call for the state Legislature to hold a special session focused on redistricting. 'All's fair in love and war,' Hochul said during an unrelated event in Buffalo. 'We're following the rules. We do redistricting every 10 years. But if there's other states violating the rules and are trying to give themselves an advantage, all I'll say is, I'm going to look at it closely with Hakeem Jeffries.' POLITICO reported Thursday that House Minority Leader Jeffries' team already spoke with Hochul's office about redistricting earlier this month, following the Texas governor's announcement. Ed Ra, the ranking Republican member of the Assembly's Ways and Means committee, said in a statement that redrawing the maps 'would blatantly violate our State Constitution and undermine the work of the independent redistricting commission approved by New York voters.' — Jason Beeferman SENATE BUDGET MAN DEPARTS: The state Senate Democrats' top budget aide is departing. David Friedfel, who's served as the secretary to the Senate Finance Committee for the last five years, made the announcement on his LinkedIn page. 'After a wonderful five sessions serving as Secretary to the New York State Senate Finance Committee, I have decided it is time to take on a new role,' he wrote. 'I'm still trying to figure out what my next chapter will hold, so please reach out with any words of wisdom.' Friedfel is highly respected among Democratic state lawmakers; he's expected to stay on and help with the transition for his replacement. — Nick Reisman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL 'NOBODY CARES ABOUT EPSTEIN LIST': Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman — a potential Republican gubernatorial candidate next year — said Thursday that no one cares about the so-called Jeffrey Epstein list. '[Trump] is a guy who has gotten victory after victory after victory, and all they want to ask him is about these stupid Epstein lists,' Blakeman said. 'Nobody cares about the Epstein list except Democrats. Do your job. Do your job. Stop worrying about the Epstein list.' Blakeman made the remarks during an interview with conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg on an issue that — at least momentarily — has divided the MAGA movement. A Quinnipiac University national poll conducted earlier this month found 40 percent of Republicans approve of the Trump administration's handling of the so-called Jeffrey Epstein files, while 36 percent disapprove and 24 percent did not offer an opinion. Hochul and other Democrats have attempted to capitalize on the discord between Trump's MAGA base and the president over releasing information related to Epstein's child sex trafficking ring. 'While Bruce Blakeman broke his silence on the Epstein files, Elise Stefanik is too much of a coward and too busy enabling Trump's cover-up to come clean to New Yorkers about whether or not she wants the files to be released,' Addison Dick, the spokesperson for the Hochul-led state Democratic Party, said in a statement. 'As new revelations about Trump's close friendship with Epstein surface every day, Stefanik owes New Yorkers answers, not excuses.' Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, also running for governor, hasn't said much on the issue — but slammed a story from The Wall Street Journal that said Trump allegedly sent a sexually suggestive letter to Epstein wishing that every day should be 'another wonderful secret.' Trump says the letter is fake. POLITICO has not independently verified its existence. Stefanik's spokesperson also slammed Democrats last week for 'desperately creating false narratives to distract from their own policy failures' and noted that the party had little focus on the issue until recently. — Jason Beeferman ZOHRAN'S NEW CAMPAIGN SQUAD: Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani announced a slate of new hires today. Maya Handa, who ran state Sen. Zellnor Myrie's campaign for mayor, is taking over as Mamdani's campaign manager. Afua Atta-Mensah, an organizer who helped lead left-leaning groups Community Change and Community Voices Heard, is joining the campaign to serve as its senior political director. And Debra Khan, who previously advised the president of the powerful service workers union 32BJ SEIU, will become the campaign's director of labor and intergovernmental affairs. Despite Mamdani's proud democratic socialist brand, he has also hired a slate of new communications staffers whose backgrounds more reflect that of Jeffries and the Democratic establishment than the left-leaning groups who played key roles early on in his campaign. — Jason Beeferman STOP HORSING AROUND: The leader of the horse carriage drivers union is threatening to sue mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa for claiming Transport Workers Union leadership is taking bribes. 'There is money under the table to the TWU leadership,' Sliwa said at an animal rights rally Wednesday at City Hall. 'I become mayor, the investigation begins. This industry will be closed. The men and women of the industry will have jobs with electrified carriages that exist in the rest of the world.' TWU International President John Samuelsen shot back in a statement shared with Playbook: 'As pathetic as it is, he has the right to run for NYC Mayor, but that muppety character in a low-budget Batman movie doesn't have the right to slander the leadership of TWU Local 100, and we will be bringing an immediate action against him for defamation.' Sliwa didn't immediately respond to a request for comment regarding Samuelsen's statement. — Jeff Coltin IN OTHER NEWS — SOCIALIST VS. INCUMBENT: The likely showdown between Mamdani and Adams shares stark similarities with Buffalo's 2021 mayoral race. (Gothamist) — GENERATION M: Gen Z New Yorkers voted for Mamdani in the primary election by a wide margin — now they're trying to convince their parents. (The New York Times) — SLIWA MEETS THE BIG BIZ LEADER: Sliwa left the red beret at home and met with Kathy Wylde, CEO of Partnership for New York City, to discuss his plans for the city. (New York Post) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
Politico
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Cuomo FOIL'd
Presented by With help from Amira McKee Andrew Cuomo lost more than just the Democratic mayoral primary last month. A state judge shot down the former governor's push for taxpayers to foot his legal bills in a fight with state Attorney General Letitia James' office over a Freedom of Information Law request. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli — a longtime Cuomo foe — rejected the request in 2024 for the state to pay for the open records lawsuit against James — launching yet another courtroom showdown. Last month, in a six-page decision, a state Supreme Court justice sided with DiNapoli. 'We're reviewing the decision and considering our option to appeal,' Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said. DiNapoli's office did not comment. The open records case is an offshoot from the thicket of lawsuits that blossomed following Cuomo's 2021 resignation after James' office determined the ex-governor sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing. Building his defense in a federal lawsuit filed by a former State Police trooper, Cuomo's legal team subpoenaed the state attorney general's office for records related to the investigation. A federal judge blocked the subpoena for many of the documents. The attorney general's office suggested Cuomo's attorneys file an open records request to gain access to the material. Cuomo's team sought internal memos that contain statements from nearly 200 witnesses and unredacted interview transcripts, as lawyers seek to undermine the conclusions of James' bombshell report. More barriers, familiar to anyone who has filed a FOIL request, arose: James' office insisted it needed half a year to fulfill the request. So Cuomo's lawyers sued and requested the state pay his legal fees in the FOIL case — as it has in a trio of sexual harassment cases filed against him. Though Cuomo lost his case against DiNapoli, the setback is likely not a major one when considering the broader legal dramas facing the ex-governor. Cuomo and his former advisers have leveraged a state law that enables their legal expenses to be paid for by taxpayers. The state has spent $20.3 million to defend Cuomo and former aides, according to a tally by the comptroller's office. (The former governor's campaign has noted, with some irony, that the state budget included a $10 million pot for James' own legal defense against a reported Trump Department of Justice probe.) DiNapoli has come under pressure from anti-sexual harassment advocates to turn off the flow of taxpayer funds to Cuomo's attorneys. The comptroller's office has said it's following its legal obligations. — Nick Reisman IT'S TUESDAY: Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman. WHERE'S KATHY? In Nassau County and New York City with no public events scheduled. WHERE'S ERIC? Schedule not available as of 10 p.m. Monday. QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I would encourage AOC and other Democrats to actually meet with the United States Border Patrol.' — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ABOVE THE FOLD DCCC HITS LAWLER, WHO HITS BACK: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's first national digital ad buy of the 2026 election cycle seeks to tie battleground House Republicans with their party's 'one big, beautiful bill.' The only New Yorker on the DCCC's current list of its 35 top targets? Rep. Mike Lawler, who's deciding between running for reelection or running for governor. The Democrats' four-figure campaign, which begins this week on Meta, is focusing on the Trump megabill's blow to rural hospitals. The Lawler-specific spot includes a photo of him and reads, 'Because of his vote, rural hospitals across America are now at risk of closing.' The Hudson Valley Republican, who did vote for the bill, boasted in a campaign newsletter Monday that it includes a quadrupling of the state and local tax, or SALT, deduction cap. But he represents a suburban not a rural district. 'It's puzzling that the DCCC included us in this spend, given that NY-17 has zero rural hospitals and a $50 billion rural hospital fund was established by the One Big Beautiful Bill,' Lawler campaign spokesperson Chris Russell told Playbook. 'Republicans are cutting taxes for working people and retirees, and protecting and strengthening the social safety net for truly vulnerable people, while the Democrats supported raising taxes on working Americans so they could fund a welfare state for illegal immigrants and scam artists.' Democrats are slamming the 'big, ugly bill' as the slashing of Medicaid and SNAP to fund tax breaks for the wealthy. 'Vulnerable House Republicans' incredibly cruel vote to jeopardize hospitals in their districts and across America is going to cost them their jobs and the majority,' DCCC spokesperson Viet Shelton said in a statement. 'The DCCC is making sure that every battleground voter knows that instead of lowering costs for American families, Republicans are ripping away health care for millions and cutting funding for hospitals, all to pay for massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors.' DCCC leaders say House Dems are starting this cycle with more pickup opportunities than in 2024 and are poised to reclaim the speaker's gavel. — Emily Ngo CITY HALL: THE LATEST CHARTER CHATTER: Democratic City Comptroller Brad Lander and Republican City Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola were in rare agreement Monday night, with both asking Mayor Eric Adams' Charter Revision Commission to kill a proposal that would shift New York City to non-partisan primary elections where the top two candidates proceed to the general, regardless of party. 'Political parties are not perfect … but they are how we do politics here,' Lander said. 'I don't see why we would change it now, other than some sour losers want to change the outcome of an election we just ran.' Ariola said the process would bring in 'the tyranny of the majority' and 'effectively usher in one-party rule.' The commission heard testimony for more than four hours, with most speakers focusing on the open primary proposal — which the commission hasn't decided whether or not to put before voters in November, as Playbook reported Monday. Government reform groups were split — Citizens Union loves it, while Common Cause asked the commission to slow it down and allow would-be supporters to build consensus, rather than push a 'very divisive' proposal. Adams-appointed Commission Chair Richard Buery emphasized that the board was independent, but City Hall showed up to support open primaries. Adams adviser Diane Savino advocated for the proposal in her role as a commissioner, and Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy made a surprise appearance to testify as well. 'I want to be clear that my testimony here tonight has nothing to do with the results of the Democratic primary that took place two weeks ago,' he said. 'I simply believe, like I would hope many of you, that every vote should count… Some say 'country over party.' I say 'city over party.'' The commission plans to finalize ballot proposals on July 21. — Jeff Coltin ENDORSEMENT WATCH: City Council Member James Gennaro reluctantly endorsed Adams on Monday — making him the first elected official to publicly back the mayor's reelection run. 'Serving as a City Council Member in City Hall with Mayor Adams has NOT been easy — he and I disagree about many issues, and I believe he's made a lot of mistakes, but he's infinitely better than Mamdani, in my opinion,' Gennaro said in a Facebook post, also slamming Mamdani as 'unabashedly antisemitic' and 'a hater, a liar, a Socialist.' Adams campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro said the mayor has 'dozens' of endorsements, but they haven't been announced yet, promising to share names 'soon.' — Jeff Coltin More from the city: — New York City street vendors would no longer face misdemeanor charges and jail for violating the city's vending laws, under a bill passed by the City Council. (Gothamist) — Mark Nunez's lawsuit after getting beaten on Rikers Island led to reform in city jails, but he only got a small settlement. (Daily News) — Mamdani got a 2140 out of 2400 on the SAT. (New York Post) NEW FROM PLANET ALBANY BE PREPARED: Republican state Sen. Bill Weber is mulling a House run and is signaling to people he's interested if Rep. Mike Lawler decides to run for governor. 'I'm a moderate in a very moderate district,' Weber, who flipped his Senate seat in 2022, said in an interview with Playbook. 'It leads me to be a formidable candidate.' It's a tricky balance for Hudson Valley Republicans — a purplish area that's home to a trio of battleground House districts. Lawler's seat is expected to be highly competitive next year, and a slew of Democrats have already lined up to take him on. Weber wouldn't run if Lawler stays put. There will be significant national attention on Lawler's seat, however, given the stakes for both parties vying to control the narrowly divided House. 'Once he makes his decision, I'd be comfortable that I can get an operation up and running as soon as possible,' Weber said. 'I know the national party will understand the importance and severity for any candidate who ends up running for that seat.' — Nick Reisman More from Albany: — Former Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton says Gov. Kathy Hochul has a responsibility to endorse Zohran Mamdani. (City & State) — New York's powerful teachers union has some questions about the Regents exams. (WTEN) — A public hearing to assess the consumer directed care program transition has been postponed. (Spectrum News) KEEPING UP WITH THE DELEGATION BIG, BEAUTIFUL LISTS: House members now face the task of selling the good — if they're Republicans — and the bad — if they're Democrats — of the GOP megalaw. One approach is to list the components of the complex domestic policy legislation. Rep. Josh Riley, an upstate Democrat, sent a fundraising appeal Monday that used red X marks as bullet points to knock the 'GOP tax scam.' 'It will kick 1.5 million New Yorkers off their healthcare,' 'It cuts critical funding for rural hospitals that are already on the brink of closing' and 'It makes massive cuts to SNAP, which will take food off the tables of families in Upstate New York,' he listed. GOP Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island used green check marks as bullet points in an X post to sell the merits of the massive legislation. 'Middle-Class Tax Cuts,' 'Secure Borders,' 'Strong Military,' 'Made in USA,' 'Eliminate Waste & Fraud' and 'Protect Our Vulnerable,' she listed. The dueling approaches preview how Democrats and Republicans are fighting to shape the narrative on Trump's 'one big, beautiful bill' as the midterms heat up. — Emily Ngo More from Congress: — Former Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is considering a political comeback and a challenge to Lawler in the Hudson Valley. (Axios) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is seeking a probe into National Weather Service staffing and the response to deadly flooding in Texas. (Reuters) — Elon Musk and Andrew Yang have connected on the billionaire former Trump adviser's third-party threat. (POLITICO) NEW YORK STATE OF MIND — Dozens of UFOs zipped across New York City's skies during the first six months of the year. (New York Post) — City of Albany officials are calling for action after 10 people were shot and a house burned down on a chaotic July 4. (CBS 6) — Toll evasion at bridges and tunnels remains high despite a crackdown on 'ghost' plates. (Newsday) SOCIAL DATA WELCOME TO THE WORLD: Megan Hannigan, deputy chief of staff to Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and Coulter Minix, deputy chief of staff to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, welcomed Scotty Sullivan Minix late Friday night. Pic … Another pic HAPPY BIRTHDAY: New York City Comptroller Brad Lander …Rep. John Mannion (D-N.Y.) … State Sen. Andrew Gounardes … Assemblymember Phil Steck … City Finance Commissioner Preston Niblack … Maureen McCormack McNeil … NYCHA's Sarah Figuereo-Rey … Yeshiva University's Jon Greenfield … Addie Jenne … NYAA's Michael Gareth Johnson … Reuters' Steve Holland … NYT's Lara Jakes … Jim Miklaszewski … Bill Hinkle … Arlie Ziskend … Anna Quindlen … Christian Sherrill Missed Monday's New York Playbook PM? We forgive you. Read it here.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-NYC Mayor Eric Adams campaign vendor accused of SoHo assault donated to him at ritzy fundraiser
NEW YORK — Trent Pool, a conservative political consultant accused of assaulting his girlfriend in a Manhattan hotel, donated the legal max amount to Mayor Eric Adams' reelection effort as part of a fundraiser last year — and was months later hired by the campaign to do petitioning work, the Daily News has learned. The fundraiser itself may also have violated campaign finance rules as Adams' team failed to disclose cryptocurrency tycoon Brock Pierce's role in hosting the event. Pool, who's known for managing petitioning for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s failed 2024 presidential campaign, was arrested in April 2024 on charges alleging he strangled his partner at the SoHo Grand Hotel. As reported by Gothamist this week, Adams' campaign paid Pool some $175,000 this spring to do petitioning work to secure an independent line for the mayor on November's general election ballot. Pool's hire came as he was in the middle of fighting his assault case — which remains pending in Manhattan Criminal Court — and Adams' campaign responded to Gothamist's report by saying it'd cut ties with Pool, adding that the mayor was unaware of the charges against him and 'has never had contact with' him. Records obtained by The News via a Freedom of Information Law request nonetheless reveal that months before being hired, Pool contributed $2,100, the legal max, to Adams' reelection campaign as part of an exclusive fundraiser in Puerto Rico attended by the mayor. The Dec. 10, 2024 fundraiser, hosted at Pierce's San Juan mansion, raised a total of $13,404 from nine individuals, including Pool, the records show. As required, the records were submitted to the city Campaign Finance Board by Adams' team to disclose all fundraiser attendees who gave in connection with the event. Thomas Keniff, Pool's criminal lawyer, declined to comment Friday on his client's participation in the fundraiser, but said he 'has supported and donated to Eric Adams, along with many other common sense candidates nationwide.' 'As to his pending criminal charges, Mr. Pool maintains his innocence and looks forward to being fully exonerated,' Keniff added. Pool's case is slated to go to trial next month. 'Mayor Adams has no recollection of ever meeting Trent Pool in any setting, but the campaign sometimes acts independently on hiring independent contractors,' an Adams campaign spokesman said when asked about his interactions with Trent and reliance on his services. Pierce, a pro-Trump investor and billionaire, threw the fundraiser for Adams while the mayor was on the island for a cryptocurrency conference. The private event came as Adams was still under indictment on federal corruption charges that were months later dismissed at the request of President Donald Trump's Department of Justice as part of a deal many believe has left the mayor beholden to Trump's agenda. Given that Pierce's event raised more than $500, Adams' team under campaign finance law was required to either report Pierce as a so-called 'intermediary' or pay him for hosting the shindig. However, Adams' campaign didn't report Pierce as an intermediary and there is no record it paid Pierce for hosting, records show. A spokesman for the Campaign Finance Board declined to comment. Vito Pitta, Adams' campaign compliance attorney, didn't immediately return a request for comment. The revelations about Pool — who was reportedly spotted at the U.S. Capitol during the deadly pro-Trump Jan. 6, 2021 attack, though he denies participating in any violence — come as Adams is kickstarting his independent run for reelection amid various headwinds. Continuing to face political fallout from his indictment, Adams held a formal reelection campaign launch rally at City Hall Thursday, where he assailed the presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, as unfit for office. Several of Adams' longtime supporters joined him at the event, including Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a Bronx community leader who called him the 'moral clarity mayor.' -------- —With Josephine Stratman
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-Adams campaign vendor accused of SoHo assault donated to him at ritzy fundraiser
Trent Pool, a conservative political consultant accused of assaulting his girlfriend in a Manhattan hotel, donated the legal max amount to Mayor Adams' reelection effort as part of a fundraiser last year — and was months later hired by the campaign to do petitioning work, the Daily News has learned. The fundraiser itself may also have violated campaign finance rules as Adams' team failed to disclose cryptocurrency tycoon Brock Pierce's role in hosting the event. Pool, who's known for managing petitioning for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s failed 2024 presidential campaign, was arrested in April 2024 on charges alleging he strangled his partner at the SoHo Grand Hotel. As reported by Gothamist this week, Adams' campaign paid Pool some $175,000 this spring to do petitioning work to secure an independent line for the mayor on November's general election ballot. Pool's hire came as he was in the middle of fighting his assault case — which remains pending in Manhattan Criminal Court — and Adams' campaign responded to Gothamist's report by saying it'd cut ties with Pool, adding that the mayor was unaware of the charges against him and 'has never had contact with' him. Records obtained by The News via a Freedom of Information Law request nonetheless reveal that months before being hired, Pool contributed $2,100, the legal max, to Adams' reelection campaign as part of an exclusive fundraiser in Puerto Rico attended by the mayor. The Dec. 10, 2024 fundraiser, hosted at Pierce's San Juan mansion, raised a total of $13,404 from nine individuals, including Pool, the records show. As required, the records were submitted to the city Campaign Finance Board by Adams' team to disclose all fundraiser attendees who gave in connection with the event. Thomas Keniff, Pool's criminal lawyer, declined to comment Friday on his client's participation in the fundraiser, but said he 'has supported and donated to Eric Adams, along with many other common sense candidates nationwide.' 'As to his pending criminal charges, Mr. Pool maintains his innocence and looks forward to being fully exonerated,' Keniff added. Pool's case is slated to go to trial next month. 'Mayor Adams has no recollection of ever meeting Trent Pool in any setting, but the campaign sometimes acts independently on hiring independent contractors,' an Adams campaign spokesman said when asked about his interactions with Trent and reliance on his services. Pierce, a pro-Trump investor and billionaire, threw the fundraiser for Adams while the mayor was on the island for a cryptocurrency conference. The private event came as Adams was still under indictment on federal corruption charges that were months later dismissed at the request of President Trump's Department of Justice as part of a deal many believe has left the mayor beholden to Trump's agenda. Given that Pierce's event raised more than $500, Adams' team under campaign finance law was required to either report Pierce as a so-called 'intermediary' or pay him for hosting the shindig. However, Adams' campaign didn't report Pierce as an intermediary and there is no record it paid Pierce for hosting, records show. A spokesman for the Campaign Finance Board declined to comment. Vito Pitta, Adams' campaign compliance attorney, didn't immediately return a request for comment. The revelations about Pool — who was reportedly spotted at the U.S. Capitol during the deadly pro-Trump Jan. 6, 2021 attack, though he denies participating in any violence — come as Adams is kickstarting his independent run for reelection amid various headwinds. Continuing to face political fallout from his indictment, Adams held a formal reelection campaign launch rally at City Hall Thursday, where he assailed the presumptive Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, as unfit for office. Several of Adams' longtime supporters joined him at the event, including Sheikh Musa Drammeh, a Bronx community leader who called him the 'moral clarity mayor.' With Josephine Stratman
