Mayor Adams’ authorized protection belief returned seven of eight contributions from Madison Sq. Backyard kingpin James Dolan’s household enterprise inside days of receiving them, new data reveal — a transfer that put elevated pressure on the already cash-strapped fund.
The data don’t spell out why the belief didn’t give again all of the Dolan donations, which raised ethics considerations earlier this yr as a result of billionaire MSG proprietor’s intensive enterprise pursuits earlier than Adams’ administration.
The remaining three donations, all additionally within the authorized max quantity of $5,000, got here from James Dolan himself on July 26, his different grownup son, Ryan Dolan, on June 26, and Irving Azoff, a longtime Dolan enterprise companion, on July 15. These three have been additionally returned by the belief inside days, with the final refund, of James Dolan’s contribution, processed on Aug. 14, the data present.
The data present Adams’ belief didn’t return a $5,000 donation given on July 15 by considered one of Dolan’s different grownup sons, Aidan, who, like his brothers, is an government in his father’s MSG Leisure firm.
Madison Sq. Backyard CEO James Dolan watches an NBA basketball sport between the New York Knicks and the Sacramento Kings. (AP Picture/Kathy Willens)
Adams’ reelection marketing campaign, which can also be going through money-related issues, hasn’t returned any of the $16,800 it acquired from Dolan, his sons, father and enterprise associates across the identical time this summer time, data present.
Vito Pitta, Adams’ belief and 2025 marketing campaign compliance legal professional, didn’t return a request for remark this week and neither did reps for Dolan.
In complete, the belief gave again $35,000 in Dolan household and enterprise money, the data present. With many of the Dolan funds relinquished, Adams’ belief pulled in simply $62,500 between July 1 and Sept. 30, the bottom fundraising stretch for the reason that mayor launched the fund in late 2023.
Even with the Dolan cash in play, the belief was within the pink as of Sept. 30, having spent greater than it had raised, most of it to cowl the a whole bunch of 1000’s of {dollars} in authorized charges the mayor is racking up every month.
Mayor Adams within the Blue Room of Metropolis Corridor on Dec. 16. (Barry Williams/ New York Every day Information)
On Sept. 26, Manhattan federal prosecutors indicted Adams on felony costs alleging he took bribes and unlawful marketing campaign money from Turkish authorities officers and others in change for political favors. Adams, who has pleaded not responsible, is about to face trial in April, and that can all however actually imply even heftier authorized payments, particularly as he not too long ago employed a brand new lawyer, Alex Spiro, who’s recognized to cost shoppers $2,000 per hour.
When the Adams belief’s newest public disclosure first got here out in mid-October, the wave of Dolan donations sparked outrage from native lawmakers and authorities watchdogs who famous the MSG proprietor’s company empire holds varied enterprise pursuits the mayor has sway over, together with a allow The Backyard is dependent upon to function.
The up to date data reflecting the Dolan contribution refunds weren’t disclosed by town Conflicts of Curiosity Board till late October or November and haven’t been beforehand reported.
Beneath native regulation, people listed within the metropolis authorities’s Doing Enterprise database are prohibited from donating to mayoral authorized protection trusts, as are the youngsters and spouses of anybody listed within the database.
James Dolan isn’t personally listed within the database, however a number of of his firms are, together with MSG Leisure Holdings, because of their enterprise dealings with metropolis authorities.
Adams’ belief should disclose an replace on its funds in mid-January. In October, Pitta stated the belief anticipated to start out elevating more cash after Adams’ indictment as his “defense enters a new stage.”
Initially Revealed: December 25, 2024 at 9:57 AM EST
