© Seth Harrison, The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images / © Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(New York, NY) – New York City Mayor Eric Adams is coming under fire after reports reveal that a small donor fundraiser back in August 2021 was actually a ritzy private event. The fundraiser reported 231 donations from cashiers and low wage workers from the New World Mall in Queens ranging from $249 to $250. That $55 thousand total was then beefed up eight times over thanks to the city’s matching funds program that meets resident contributions with public funds.
Thanks to that program, the campaign raked in around $362 thousand in public funds based on the money they reportedly raised. However, those small donations are now raising some eyebrows. Several of the listed donors were interviewed by The City and The Guardian, and said they were not even at the event.
Videos posted on Youtube also showed the event taking place in a mansion on Long Island featuring caviar and $400 bottles of wine. This comes as Adams faces a five-count federal indictment for bribery charges. That case goes to court in April 2025. Adams has pleaded not guilty.