Board of Ethics Report on Dismissal of Bradley Investigation

The White Plains Board of Ethics conducted a full investigation into possible impropriety between former Mayor Adam Bradley and his previous landlord, who he allegedly gave favorable treatment to.

However, since he resigned on Feb. 19 () the board was forced to drop their investigation, since he was no longer a city official/employee. 

"Here, the subject individual resigned from City service during the pendency of this matter, depriving the Board of Ethics of jurisdiction over the sua sponte complaint," the board's decision reads. "The purpose of a full investigation by the Board of Ethics is to determine whether formal charges are warranted and whether a fact finding hearing will be conducted. Here formal charges were not filed, and a hearing was not conducted."

Click on the PDF to read the full document

According to The Journal News, Bradley's ethics disclosure form stated "none," with an asterisk next to a question on whether he accepted gifts while in office. The asterisk explained that his question was the subject of an ethics investigation, according to The Journal News. 

The board has not released the records of the investigation since it says it restricted from doing so by the City's charter. Click for that story.

"The dismissal of a complaint for lack of jurisdiction prior to a fact-finding hearing deprives the subject individual of an opportunity to assert defenses, confront and cross examine adverse witnesses or to present exculpatory evidence," the board's decision says. "This the confidentiality of the record in matters that have dismissed for lack of jurisdiction by the Board of Ethics prior to the filing of formal charges or the trial of those charges at a fact-finding hearing is an important protection of the privacy and due process rights of City officers who are the subject to investigation by the the Board of Ethics."

According to The Journal News, Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona said taxpayers have a right learn about the investigation since the City spent more than $18,000 on a laywer. They also reported that Executive Director of the New  York Committee on Open Government Robert Freeman said that the documents can be released under the Freedom of Information Law. White Plains Patch has made a request for the documents. 

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