Mayor Adams’ defense trust is deep in debt, with only $2,200 raised recently, raising concerns ahead of his upcoming trial.
New York: So, it turns out Mayor Adams is in a bit of a financial pickle. His defense trust is almost $1 million in the red after only pulling in about $2,200 recently. Most of that cash came from a guy who’s had some legal troubles himself and was pardoned by Trump.
This trust is supposed to help cover the legal fees Adams is racking up as he fights a federal corruption indictment. Right now, he owes around $925,000, which is a hefty sum. The latest report shows he’s spent about $2.5 million while raising only $1.63 million.
Things got even tighter when the trust had to pay a $200,000 retainer to his main lawyer, Alex Spiro, who’s known for charging a pretty penny. Adams is gearing up for a trial in April, just before the Democratic primary, so those legal costs are likely to keep climbing.
Spiro, who has some big-name clients like Elon Musk, started working with Adams right after his indictment. The charges against Adams claim he took bribes and illegal donations for his campaigns from Turkish operatives. He’s pleaded not guilty, though.
In the latest report, the trust also shelled out over $400,000 to another law firm, WilmerHale, which is helping with his defense. It’s not looking great for the fundraising side, as only two people donated this time around.
One of the donors, Tzvi Odzer, gave $2,000 and has his own shady past, having been convicted of bank fraud. He was pardoned by Trump on his last day in office. Trump has even hinted he might consider pardoning Adams, saying he thinks the mayor’s been treated unfairly.
Odzer didn’t want to chat about his donation when reached for comment. The other donor, an attorney named Alan Sclar, chipped in $200. Adams had already been in the red before this latest report, but he seems determined to pay his bills, saying that’s just how he rolls.
