Mayor Eric Adams’ team has requested an extension from the city’s campaign finance watchdog to respond to questions regarding sloppy recordkeeping due to their lawyer being occupied with a federal inquiry. The Campaign Finance Board has granted multiple extensions to the campaign attorney, Vito Pitta, to provide additional documentation for the $2.3 million in expenses from Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign. Pitta cited the campaign’s ongoing communication with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as a reason for needing more time to respond to the draft audit.
In an email exchange obtained through a Freedom of Information request, Pitta and fellow campaign lawyer, Ardian Tagani, objected to a previous public records request and argued that the draft audit should be exempt from disclosure due to ongoing investigations. However, the board’s general counsel, Joseph Gallagher, clarified that the exemption did not apply to the standard audit process.
The emails began on July 31, 2024, the day the campaign’s response was due, and the board granted an extension until August 15. Despite this extension, Pitta raised concerns about a final deadline being imposed two weeks after August 15, calling it unusual and prejudicial. He also criticized the board for taking 13 months to issue the draft audit, while other mayoral candidates received their audits earlier.
The Campaign Finance Board’s director of candidate services, Hannah Egerton, reminded the Adams campaign of the final extension granted until August 15, stating that it would be the last. Pitta subsequently requested additional extensions, citing the ongoing investigation and recent subpoenas served to the campaign by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The board granted another 90-day extension, setting a new deadline for November 29, 2024.
Despite the ongoing challenges and delays in responding to the draft audit, Adams’ 2025 campaign could potentially receive more public funding through matching funds before the completion of the audit for his 2021 campaign. The situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in campaign finance practices, especially for candidates seeking public office.