Mayor Adams’ campaign is under scrutiny as it has yet to refund tens of thousands of dollars in donations linked to Eric Ulrich, the indicted former head of the Buildings Department. The campaign’s lawyer had announced four months ago that the funds were in the process of being sent back.

Main Points:

– The campaign of Mayor Adams has not returned tens of thousands of dollars in donations linked to indicted ex-Buildings Department boss Eric Ulrich.
– A lawyer for the campaign assured nearly four months ago that the money was being refunded.
– The funds include donations from Ulrich, his six co-defendants, and relatives who collectively contributed nearly $32,000 to Mayor Adams’ 2021 campaign.
– Adams’ campaign says the refund delay is due to the ongoing FBI investigation into foreign contributions.

Former Buildings Commissioner Ulrich, the inaugural holder of the position under Adams, faced multiple indictments from the Manhattan district attorney’s office in September 2023. He stands accused of accepting bribes totaling $150,000 from six co-defendants. Prosecutors allege Ulrich manipulated his office’s powers, securing benefits such as swift health inspections and city jobs for his co-defendants.

Campaign Donations Under Investigation

Ulrich, along with his co-defendants, jointly donated nearly $8,000 to the Adams campaign in 2021. Additionally, the co-defendants’ relatives contributed an estimated $24,000. After Ulrich was charged, Adams’ compliance lawyer, Vito Pitta, assured the public in late September 2023 that the campaign had initiated the process of refunding all connected donations.

Despite the previous assurance by Pitta, the campaign’s latest legally mandated disclosure shows that it has not returned any of the contributions from Ulrich or his relative co-defendants.

Pitta attributed the delay in refunds to the FBI’s ongoing inquiry into whether the Turkish government surreptitiously funneled illegal foreign money into Adams’ campaign coffers. The federal probe, according to Pitta, also disrupted other campaign operations.

Unclear Connection Between FBI Inquiry and Refunds

The FBI investigation only became publicly known when federal agents searched the home of Brianna Suggs, a top fundraiser for Adams, over a month after Pitta claimed money was being refunded. The relationship between the FBI probe and the refund delay is yet to be explicitly outlined by Pitta.

Adams’s campaign made refunds on other donations during the latest reporting window, as per the new disclosure. However, it has yet to refund approximately $14,000 that came from 11 employees of KSK Construction, a Brooklyn-based contractor now at the focus of the FBI’s Turkey investigation.

The KSK donations, all made on May 7, 2021, have sparked controversy after revelations that the FBI suspects the construction company might have played a part in funneling illegal foreign funding into Adams’ campaign. However, the campaign has not returned these funds due to advice from counsel to hold off until ongoing investigations conclude.

As of now, neither Mayor Adams nor any individual linked to his campaign have faced accusations in the ongoing FBI probe. The investigation has yet to produce any tangible results, and until it does, Pitta maintains that the KSK contributions will be preserved.

Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Cuomo

The Justice Department’s investigation revealed that former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo harassed at least 13 female staffers, creating a “sexually hostile work environment.” The nine-page settlement, agreed upon by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office and the U.S. attorney’s office, stated that the department’s inquiry established that Cuomo made unwanted advances to the women. Further, it specified that Cuomo’s senior staff retaliated against four victims – a charge that raises new questions about Cuomo’s governance.

Key Takeaways:

– A Justice Department probe revealed that former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo created a “sexually hostile work environment.”
– Cuomo’s senior staff were aware of his conduct and retaliated against four of the victims, according to the settlement agreement.
– The nine-page settlement indicates that the Governor’s office under Kathy Hochul reached an agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office on the investigation results.
– Cuomo, who resigned disgracefully in August 2021, continues to deny all sexual harassment allegations against him.
– The settlement confirms policies implemented by Hochul since taking office and calls for further reform.

A Culture of Retaliation

The ordeal didn’t stop at the governor’s indiscretions. According to the settlement, Cuomo’s senior staff knew about his behavior and sought to fight back against those who accused him. “Indeed, the Executive Chamber’s response was designed only to protect Cuomo from further accusations, rather than to protect employees from sexual harassment,” said the settlement.

Proof of Repeated Misconduct

The settlement marks the latest episode unraveling Cuomo’s rampant sexual harassment while he was serving as the 56th governor of New York. Interestingly, these revelations emerge as Cuomo, a 66-year-old Democrat, is visibly re-entering public life and possibly considering another run for public office.

Legal Process and Investigation Timelines

The Justice Department launched the inquiry into Cuomo’s conduct in August 2021. This was the same month that state Attorney General Letitia James released a shocking investigation stating Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women. The Justice Department completed its probe by November 2022.

Cuomo’s Response

Despite the intense sexual harassment allegations against him, Cuomo, who resigned in disgrace in August 2021, has consistently denied the claims. He cited a lack of criminal charges from five New York district attorneys investigations as proof of his alleged innocence. The prosecutors, though, found the allegations against Cuomo credible.

Reformation Under Gov. Hochul

The settlement agreement outlined that Kathy Hochul, who replaced Cuomo, has set up new policies to help prevent such incidents in the future. It recommended further measures, including expanding the Executive Chamber’s Human Resources Department and introducing anti-retaliation programs.

Hochul, whose relationship with Cuomo was notably strained, stated, “I knew when I replaced him that I needed to root out the culture of harassment that had previously plagued the Executive Chamber.” Hochul expressed gratitude toward the Justice Department for recognizing her efforts toward systemic change and looked forward to future cooperation to prevent such incidents.

Breon Peace, the U.S. attorney in Brooklyn, commended Hochul’s “stated determination to prevent sexual harassment from recurring at the highest level of New York State government.” The steps taken by Gov. Hochul reflect a determination to learn from past incidents and foster a safer, more inclusive environment for all employees.