Mayor Adams struggles with rising legal fees as his defense fund sees a sharp decline in donations amid ongoing legal battles
New York City: Mayor Eric Adams is in a bit of a pickle. He’s facing over $735,000 in unpaid legal fees while his defense fund is running low on cash.
In the last three months, the fund only brought in $2,200 from two donors. That’s pretty rough, especially when you consider he’s racked up more than $866,000 in expenses.
Most of that money went to his lawyers, who are working hard on his case. They’ve even received a hefty retainer of nearly $200,000 from a high-profile law firm.
Adams was indicted on bribery charges back in September, and his trial is set for April. The legal costs are expected to keep climbing as the case unfolds.
The defense fund was set up after federal raids targeted his top fundraiser, and it initially raised a solid $1.8 million. But since the indictment, donations have really dried up.
He’s only managed to pull in $23,000 from eight donations since then. The fund can take up to $5,000 from each donor, but it seems like people are hesitant to contribute.
One of the few donors recently was Tzvi Odzer, who has a bit of a checkered past with campaign donations. He gave $2,000 to the fund, but that’s not exactly a game-changer.
Despite the debt, sources close to Adams say his lawyers will keep working, and the fund can still raise money whenever needed. Meanwhile, Adams is also raising funds for his reelection campaign, which is doing much better.
