De Blasio to Pay $475,000 Fine for Misusing Public Funds

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will have to pay a hefty $475,000 fine after a judge dismissed his appeal. The fine, issued by the city's ethics board, stems from the misuse of public funds for his failed 2020 presidential campaign.

The judge deemed de Blasio's arguments "perplexing" and "entirely baseless," stating that the former mayor was clearly informed that the city would not cover security travel costs for his campaign. The $475,000 encompasses $320,000 in airfare and other travel costs for his security detail, plus an additional $155,000 in fines for 31 out-of-state trips.

This is the largest fine ever imposed by New York City's Conflicts of Interest Board. De Blasio's legal team argued that the reimbursement violated his First Amendment rights and created an unequal burden on public servants compared to wealthy candidates. They also claimed that the payment would have a negligible impact on the NYPD budget.

This ruling comes after a 2021 report by the city's Department of Investigation revealed that de Blasio used his security detail for personal matters, such as moving his daughter and transporting his son to college. Since leaving office, de Blasio has pursued lecturing and speaking engagements.

Read the full report from the city's Department of Investigation