Trouble in Mayor Adams' Race: Campaign Could Pay Big for Federal Case

Mayor Adams is in hot water. His reelection campaign might be hit with a massive fine because of his federal corruption case. A city watchdog group, the CFB, is considering a penalty called "breach of certification. " This is the worst punishment they can give. It means Adams could lose all the public money he got for his last campaign, which was around $10 million. The CFB said Adams might have cheated to get this money. They think he took donations from foreign nationals, which is against the rules. This could make his whole campaign pot look tainted. The CFB is already checking over his 2021 campaign and is looking into his 2025 campaign too because of his indictment. They're not happy that his campaign isn't talking to them either. Now, Adams can't get new matching funds for his 2025 campaign. This could be a big problem. He's against several challengers in the upcoming Democratic mayoral primary. A penalty like this could really hurt his chances. The public matching funds program is a big deal. It gives candidates $8 for every $1 they raise from city residents, up to $250. This can make or break a campaign. A breach of certification determination is rare. Only about 26 candidates have been hit with this since 1988. Adams' lawyer didn't comment, and neither did a spokesman for the CFB. The CFB has already denied Adams about $4 million in matching funds for his 2025 campaign. He can appeal, but experts say the board won't change their mind unless something big happens in his corruption case.