Mayor Adams’ try to unlock marketing campaign public matching funds was rejected, for a second time, on Wednesday by a Brooklyn Federal Court docket decide.
Choose Nicholas Garaufis upheld town Marketing campaign Finance Board’s determination to disclaim Adams greater than $4 million in public matching funds, writing he did so “because the undisputed facts show that the CFB’s ineligibility determination is rational and that the CFB has met its burden to prove the constitutionality of its actions.”
“The ruling by Judge Garaufis affirms what the Campaign Finance Board independently determined: that Mayor Adams’ 2025 campaign failed to demonstrate eligibility for public matching funds,” board Chairman Frederick Schaffer stated in an announcement. “As stewards of taxpayer dollars, the board is committed to upholding the Campaign Finance Act and treating all candidates fairly and equally.”
This was the mayor’s second lawsuit filed in opposition to the board.
Regardless of dropping out of the mayoral race, Adams advised the courtroom this week that he nonetheless meant to hunt the money.
The mayor particularly talked about the shortage of public matching funds as a motive for exiting the race at his announcement Sunday, saying the Marketing campaign Finance Board’s determination had “undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”
The board first denied Adams the general public money in December 2024 due to his corruption indictment, which alleged partially that the mayor’s reelection marketing campaign used unlawful marketing campaign donations to unlock matching funds.
After the case was dismissed, the board continued to disclaim Adams the funds, citing that it nonetheless had “reason to believe” the mayor broke the legislation and that the marketing campaign had didn’t adjust to the board’s requests for information.
Adams has been combating the Marketing campaign Finance Board’s selections in courtroom since Could.
The indictment was dropped on the behest of President Trump’s Justice Division on political grounds, not on the deserves of the particular prices.
For the reason that case’s dismissal, the Marketing campaign Finance Board has undertaken its personal probe into the alleged marketing campaign finance crimes, seemingly retracing among the feds’ steps.
A spokesman for Adams didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Underneath town’s matching funds, candidates operating for mayor can get donations from New Yorkers matched with taxpayer funds at an 8-to-1 price as much as $250.
With Chris Sommerfeldt
Initially Printed: October 1, 2025 at 4:42 PM EDT
