Mayor Adams is $3M in the hole for criminal defense as donations dry up

Mayor Eric Adams is buried nether a increasing upland of unpaid ineligible bills he racked up during a historical bribery lawsuit — arsenic donors to his defense money wholly disappear.

Hizzoner has an unpaid tab of much than $3 cardinal for his conflict against national corruption charges, pinch his high-profile lawyer Alex Spiro billing him astir $2.3 million, according to his latest nationalist filing.

But Spiro’s rule patient has yet to complaint Adams for practice this year, which could adhd hundreds of thousands of dollars to his increasing debt. Quinn Emanuel charged nan politician astir $775,000 successful nan past 3 months of 2024.

At nan aforesaid time, nan money grounded to cod a azygous aid this year.

Mayor Eric Adams has millions of dollars successful unpaid ineligible bills. Lev Radin/Shutterstock

A national judge signed disconnected connected nan dismissal of nan case brought by nan Southern District of New York successful early April aft a controversial bid from nan Trump DOJ, which sparked an exodus of prosecutors, including nan interim caput of nan Lower Manhattan office.

The hold successful dismissal and historical debased polling numbers for an incumbent politician led to Adams pivoting from nan Democratic primary and mounting his sights connected nan November wide predetermination arsenic an independent.

While nan governmental chances for a third-party triumph are slim, it gives nan politician months of imaginable relevance successful nan nationalist oculus to raise money.

Adams besides owes nan rule patient of his erstwhile main counsel, Brendan McGuire, much than $2 cardinal and his defense money manager, Vito Pita, astir $100,000, according to nan quarterly filing pinch nan Conflict of Interest Board released precocious Tuesday.

Adams’ run spokesperson Todd Shapiro played down nan abysmal filing, saying, “The politician is exploring each due avenues to reside nan indebtedness without compromising his duties to nan city.

“With nan caller dismissal of charges, he is now focused connected restoring nationalist spot and ensuring that each obligations, including ineligible expenses, are met successful a transparent and ethical manner,” he added.

Adams’ run has faced a akin hurdle complete caller months pinch donations drying up arsenic supporters seemingly saw small chance that he could beryllium re-elected, but he still has much than $3 cardinal successful his warfare chest.