Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio caught taking taxpayers for a $330,000 joyride during his failed presidential campaign—now he’s finally being forced to pay it back.
At a Glance
- De Blasio misused his NYPD security detail during his presidential campaign, racking up $330,000 in inappropriate expenses
- Taxpayers funded personal trips, including security for a Red Sox game in Los Angeles
- The settlement reduced his original $475,000 fine to $10,000 plus restitution payments
- This marks the first enforcement action by the Conflicts of Interest Board against a New York City Mayor
- De Blasio’s presidential campaign never gained more than 1% in polls despite the lavish taxpayer support
Another Democrat Caught With His Hand in the Cookie Jar
Well, well, well… Isn’t it amazing how these progressive champions of “the people” always seem to have such a hard time distinguishing between their own pockets and the public treasury? Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose presidential campaign was so forgettable it barely registered in the polls, has finally been forced to settle a $330,000 debt with the city after shamelessly using his taxpayer-funded NYPD security detail for his personal and political adventures. The Conflicts of Interest Board caught him misusing his security detail on over 30 different occasions, essentially treating New York’s finest like his personal entourage while he pursued his delusions of White House grandeur.
For those keeping score at home, this marks the first time the Conflicts of Interest Board has ever had to take enforcement action against a sitting New York City Mayor. Congratulations, Bill! You’ve made history, just not the kind you were hoping for. The settlement comes after three years of litigation, because heaven forbid a Democrat politician immediately own up to their wrongdoing and make things right. No, better to fight it tooth and nail until you absolutely have no choice but to pay up. The board had initially levied a $155,000 fine on top of the restitution amount, but in typical progressive fashion, de Blasio got a sweetheart deal reducing the fine to just $10,000.
Take Me Out to the Ballgame… On the Taxpayer Dime
Among de Blasio’s most egregious abuses was using his NYPD security detail to attend a Red Sox game in Los Angeles. Nothing says “official mayoral business” quite like catching a ballgame 3,000 miles from the city you’re supposed to be running. The investigation found that taxpayers were footing the bill for security costs, travel expenses, and various personal fees during his campaign trips around the country. All this while he was polling at a whopping 1% or less throughout his entire presidential run. Talk about getting a terrible return on investment! New Yorkers essentially funded an extended vacation for the mayor under the guise of a presidential campaign.
“I made a mistake and I deeply regret it” – Bill de Blasio.
What’s particularly infuriating is that de Blasio admitted to ignoring ethics guidance on the matter. The city had explicitly told him that campaign-related security expenses should not be charged to taxpayers, but apparently, that was just a suggestion in his mind. Now, under the settlement terms, he’s made an initial $100,000 payment and will cough up the remaining $230,000 over the next four years in quarterly installments of $14,000. And here’s the kicker: if he defaults on these payments, he’ll be on the hook for the original full amount of $475,000. I’m sure he’ll be very punctual with those checks.
The Usual Democrat “Apology Tour”
In true progressive fashion, de Blasio has embarked on the obligatory “I’m sorry I got caught” tour, releasing statements filled with empty regret. “Now it’s time to move forward,” he declares, as if we should all just forget about his flagrant misuse of public resources. This is the standard Democrat playbook: misuse taxpayer funds, fight accountability tooth and nail for years, finally settle when cornered, offer a hollow apology, and then act like it’s time for everyone to move on. Meanwhile, if a regular citizen were to misappropriate funds from their workplace, they’d be facing criminal charges, not a payment plan.
“I acknowledge that I made a mistake, and I deeply regret it. Now it’s time to move forward” – Bill de Blasio.
The settlement only covers the travel costs for the NYPD officers, excluding their salary and overtime. So in reality, the true cost to taxpayers was even higher than the $330,000 de Blasio is repaying. This whole ordeal perfectly encapsulates how the political elite view public service – not as a responsibility to the people, but as an opportunity to live large on someone else’s dime. De Blasio’s presidential campaign may have been a spectacular failure, polling-wise, but it certainly succeeded in providing him with taxpayer-funded travel and security as he galavanted around the country. Just another reminder that when Democrats talk about “public resources,” they often really mean “resources they can use for themselves in public.”
