Ex-Mayor De Blasio Ordered to Repay Hundreds of Thousands for Improper Use of Taxpayer Funds

Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has reached a settlement with the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) following a legal dispute regarding the misuse of public funds for personal travel related to his unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2020. The implications of this case have raised significant questions about accountability and ethics within city governance.

De Blasio’s troubles began in May 2019, when a City Hall attorney inquired whether taxpayers could cover the costs associated with the NYPD security detail during de Blasio’s out-of-state campaign trips. In a response dated May 15, 2019, the COIB clarified that while the officers’ salaries could be paid from city funds, their travel expenses, including airfare and lodging, should be borne by de Blasio or his presidential campaign. Ignoring this guidance, de Blasio proceeded to charge taxpayers for these expenses after announcing his White House candidacy on May 16, 2019.

Over the course of 127 days, de Blasio utilized NYPD officers for 31 campaign-related trips, submitting claims for their travel expenses despite explicit advisories against such actions. Following his departure from City Hall on December 31, 2021, both the COIB and the city’s Department of Investigation scrutinized his actions—marking a rare case of a former mayor facing accountability for ethical breaches.

On June 15, 2023, the COIB ordered de Blasio to repay 9,794.20 for his expenses and imposed a ,000 fine for each of the 31 trips, amounting to a total liability of 4,794.20. Instead of complying, de Blasio filed a lawsuit against the COIB, which was dismissed by a judge on January 13, 2024.

Recently, the matter concluded with de Blasio withdrawing his appeal. Although he still faces the requirement to repay 9,794.20, the revised settlement reduced the fine from 5,000 to ,000. Critics have noted that this settlement reflects an insufficiently harsh response to de Blasio’s actions, particularly considering rising inflation rates, which could have justified significantly higher penalties.

Under the settlement’s terms, failure to make timely payments will result in the reinstatement of the full 5,000 fine. However, in the event of de Blasio’s death during the repayment period, his debt will be erased, a provision that some observers find concerning.

The situation has prompted discussions about how the COIB allocates enforcement efforts, highlighting a perceived inconsistency where minor infractions by lower-level municipal employees receive significant penalties, while actions by high-ranking officials may result in leniency. De Blasio’s case, however, demonstrates that accountability can reach even the highest levels of city government, reaffirming the importance of ethical conduct among public officials.