Former Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered on Thursday to pay a nearly $475,000 conflict-of-interest fine for misusing taxpayer-funded New York Police Department officers as his security detail during his failed presidential campaign, which lasted four months.
The Department of Investigation previously released a 49-page, blistering report claiming de Blasio used the department’s officers for “political purposes” and “errands.”
The report claimed that de Blasio had officers transporting his son to and from work, helping move his daughter into the Gracie Mansion, and picking up his brother from the airport to then drive two hours to pick up a rental car.
De Blasio claimed that the report’s findings contained “inconsistencies” and “inaccuracies.”
On Thursday, the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board ordered the former mayor to repay $319,794.20 for travel costs associated with his 2020 presidential run. In addition, the board issued a $155,000 fine.
According to the board, de Blasio traveled with NYPD officers on 31 out-of-state trips for his campaign. During that time, the city paid the officers’ salaries, overtime, and travel costs. De Blasio was ordered to reimburse the city only for the officers’ travel costs.
The board’s report explained, “Although there is a City purpose in the City paying for an NYPD security detail for the City’s Mayor, including the security detail’s salary and overtime, there is no City purpose in paying for the extra expenses incurred by that NYPD security detail to travel at a distance from the City to accompany the Mayor or his family on trips for his campaign for President of the United States.”
DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber supported the board’s decision.
“The Conflicts of Interest Board’s conclusions regarding former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s misuse of his security detail reaffirms DOI’s investigative findings, and shows that public officials — including the most senior — will be held accountable when they violate the rules,” Strauber stated.
De Blasio responded to the board’s order by filing a lawsuit to block the decision.
His attorney, Andrew Celli, argued that de Blasio was entitled to the security detail.
“In a time of unprecedented threats of political violence, the COIB’s reckless and arbitrary ruling threatens the safety and security of our democratically elected public servants,” Celli stated. “The case isn’t about Bill de Blasio or any other mayor or high official in particular. It’s about the principle of protecting our leaders from harm — for the good of our city.”
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