New York mayor Bill de Blasio ‘violated law to get Democrats elected’

New York's mayor is facing a possible criminal prosecution for allegedly running an illegal fundraising scheme to get Democrats elected.

Bill de Blasio and his senior aides committed “wilful and flagrant violations” of the law in 2014, according to a memo from the lead investigator at the state board of elections.

If a criminal prosecution is brought forward it could mean the end of Mr de Blasio’s hopes of running for re-election next year.

In what is the ugliest period of his time in office, Mr de Blasio faces two separate scandals and growing suspicion over his closeness to donors.

The New York Post, which has long disliked the mayor, alleged in an editorial that he was a “liar who has put City Hall up for sale”. Even the New York Daily News, which has staunchly backed Mr de Blasio, said he had done “too many favours for too many donors”. He denies any wrongdoing.

The scandal over the fundraising for Democrats was made public by a leaked eight-page report written by New York state enforcement chief Risa Sugarman. She was looking into how money was raised to get Democrats elected to the New York state senate in 2014.

The memo states: “I have determined that reasonable cause exists to believe a violation warranting criminal prosecution has taken place.

“There is considerable evidence in this case that New York City mayor William de Blasio organised a team dedicated to getting a sufficient number of Democratic New York State senators elected in 2014 to achieve a Democratic majority in the senate. The evidence indicates that de Blasio established a structure, both within and outside City Hall, and entered into an agreement with powerful unions… and political consultants… to raise and spend money to influence senate races.”

Mr de Blasio and some of his closest allies are accused of soliciting nearly $1 million from major unions and wealthy donors that were used for elections in Putnam and Ulster counties. Miss Sugarman accused the Mayor of using “straw donors” to get around the $10,300 limit per person you can donate to a senatorial candidate.

Despite the extra money, all three candidates who supposedly benefited lost their elections. The story has dominated the New York media and comes after a federal investigation was begun into Mr de Blasio’s links to two businessmen who are accused of bribing senior police officials. Community activist Tony Herbert, a former member of Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, said that Mr de Blasio should be impeached because he was “compromised”. He said: “If he cares about this city the way he says he does, he needs to step down immediately and save us the continued national embarrassment.”