Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio will pay $330,000 for improperly using taxpayer dollars to fund his security detail during his failed presidential bid.
De Blasio settled with the Conflict of Interest Board (COIB) on Wednesday where he agreed to pay back the city for his New York City Police Department security detail and pay a $10,000 fine.
The repayment includes covering the costs for his detail to accompany him to a Red Sox game in Los Angeles during a campaign trip, reports The New York Post on Wednesday.
De Blasio, under the terms of the agreement, admitted he did not follow the Conflicts of Interest Board’s (COIB) guidance when he used $319,794 in taxpayer dollars to fund the details expenses during 31 trips outside the city during his four-month race for the nomination in 2019.
He was ordered to pay $100,000 immediately and to repay the remaining $229,794 in installments of $14,000 every three months over the next four years.
The former mayor also responded in a social media post, announcing that “Today I settled an outstanding case with the NYC COIB. I acknowledge that I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Now it’s time to move forward.”
The COIB initially sought nearly $475,000 from de Blasio, but lowered its figures after the former mayor said he could not afford to pay that much. However, if he defaults on any of his payments, he will be required to pay back that full amount.
“I acknowledge that, by having the city pay for the travel expenses incurred as a result of my security detail traveling with my wife and me during my presidential campaign, and by failing to reimburse the city for these expenses, I acted in conflict with my official duties,” he wrote in the settlement agreement, reports Politico.
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Good.
The COIB lowered its figures because the old mayor said he couldn’t afford that much. Hmmm. Doesn’t quite sound right. Most lowly folks would not be given that privilege.