De Blasio Must Pay $475K Over NYPD Detail In Failed Presidential Bid

NEW YORK CITY — Former Mayor Bill de Blasio must shell out $475,000 over his improper use of an NYPD security detail during his failed presidential bid, a board ordered.

The order against de Blasio by the Conflicts of Interest Board Thursday includes the largest fine in its history: $155,000.

De Blasio "plainly violated" a ban against using city resources for the purpose of advancing a political campaign when an NYPD detail join him or his wife Chirlane McCray on 31 out-of-state trips as he ran for president in 2019, documents state.

"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," the order states.

Attorneys for de Blasio said they'd appeal the order and fine. They argued in a statement that the ruling threatens the safety and security of public servants.

"In the wake of the January 6th insurrection, the shootings of Congressmembers Giffords and Scalise, and almost daily threats directed at local leaders around the country, the COIB’s action — which seeks to saddle elected officials with security costs that the City has properly borne for decades — is dangerous, beyond the scope of their powers, and illegal," their statement reads.

Court records show de Blasio's attorneys, as promised, filed a lawsuit against the city and the board Thursday to fight the order.

The ruling details how de Blasio was warned in 2019 if he used his NYPD detail on his presidential campaign that he would have to reimburse the city for travel and other costs.

Ultimately, the details' costs came to nearly $320,000 and de Blasio's four-month campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2020 fizzled out, documents state.

De Blasio maintained the costs were for a city purpose, and thus he didn't do anything wrong.

But the conflicts board and an administrative saw it otherwise.

"In sum, (de Blasio) received a substantial benefit by failing to reimburse the City for travel expenses incurred by NYPD security for his presidential campaign, in violation of the Charter and the Board's Rules," the judge wrote.

Read the full report and ruling here.