Bill de Blasio fined nearly $500G for misusing NYPD security detail during 2019 presidential bid

Former Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay nearly $500,000 for misusing his NYPD security detail to travel during his failed run in 2019 for U.S. president.

It's the largest fine ever issued by New York City's Conflicts of Interest Board, which ruled that de Blasio, who was mayor from 2014 to 2021, violated the municipal charter by using public money to pay for the security detail's travel expenses, between May and September 2019, when he dropped out with support of 1% of those polled.

De Blasio was ordered to pay a $155,000 fine and reimburse the city $319,794.20, the cost of the cops' travel, including car rentals, lodging, airfare and more. The board had sought the maximum allowable fine — $775,000, or $25,000 per trip — although a hearing officer imposed a lower amount. A statement by a de Blasio lawyer says he is suing to challenge the board's ruling.

In its ruling, the board noted that de Blasio's lawyer had sought, and then de Blasio ignored, formal advice from the board about whether he could use the security detail on the taxpayer's tab. The public could pay the cops' salaries and overtime, the board had said, but not their travel expenses.

The city charter prohibits using taxpayer funds for political campaigns.

"Respondent's conduct plainly violates this prohibition," the board ruling said, referring to de Blasio. "Although there is a City purpose in the City paying for an NYPD security detail for the City's Mayor, including the security detail's salary and overtime, there is no City purpose in paying for the extra expenses incurred by that NYPD security detail to travel at a distance from the City to accompany the Mayor or his family on trips for his campaign for President of the United States. The Board advised Respondent to this effect prior to his campaign; Respondent disregarded the Board's advice."

De Blasio or his wife, Chirlane McCray, took 31 out-of-state trips, according to the ruling.

In the statement, one of de Blasio's lawyers, Andrew Celli, criticized the ruling and echoed an argument de Blasio's lawyers had unsuccessfully made earlier — that requiring a mayor to pay for his security detail's travel would encourage mayors to forgo security altogether.

"In this time of unprecedented threats of political violence, the COIB's reckless and arbitrary ruling threatens the safety and security of our democratically-elected public servants," according to the statement, which was tweeted. "It is an affront to the professionalism of the NYPD, and it undermines the City's compelling interest in allowing its high officials to travel safely anywhere in the world."

De Blasio, who now teaches at Harvard and NYU, couldn't be reached for comment. 

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.