Most of the 25 contributors gave just when de Blasio was exploring a bid — and when the PACs’ coffers were running low. | Demetrius Freeman/Mayoral Photography Office Watchdog group files complaint accusing de Blasio of flouting FEC rules

A government watchdog group alleged Wednesday that Mayor Bill de Blasio’s presidential campaign violated multiple federal campaign finance rules in an effort to camouflage the outsize role of wealthy donors fueling his run.

The Campaign Legal Center filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing the mayor’s camp of circumventing contribution limits by routing additional cash through a pair of political action committees. The committees, the federal Fairness PAC and the state NY Fairness PAC, were ostensibly created by the mayor to help elect other Democrats in New York and around the country.


However, by employing the organizations for his own presidential run, the mayor was able to tap into a six-figure pot of money unavailable to candidates exploring a bid for the White House through traditional avenues, as POLITICO reported Wednesday.

“[The campaign] appears to have concocted a shell game to arrange for a small number of wealthy donors to support de Blasio’s presidential run above and beyond legal contribution limits,” the complaint said.

De Blasio’s campaign said it was reviewing the complaint.

Federal rules cap individual donations at $2,800 for a presidential primary. The complaint found 25 donors who not only ran up against that limit, but also gave the maximum to both PACs. The PACs then paid for polling, travel and other expenses as de Blasio was considering a run for office.

Most of the 25 contributors gave just when de Blasio was exploring a bid — and when the PACs’ coffers were running low.

“NY Fairness PAC and Fairness PAC could only afford to fund de Blasio’s exploratory activities using funds raised from donors who gave during the period de Blasio was testing the waters for a candidacy,” the complaint said.

In addition, the complaint makes several other allegations, some of which have been highlighted in recent POLITICO reports. First, the center argues that the de Blasio campaign did not disclose the donors who funded exploratory expenses, a step required by FEC rules.

In addition, the complaint alleges that the mayor’s camp failed to report significant expenditures as de Blasio was considering his run for office.

For example, the PACs dropped nearly $100,000 on digital advertising in April. While the campaign did not designate these as expenses related to de Blasio’s presidential run, the center argued otherwise.

Shortly after the payment, the complaint states, Fairness PAC began running Facebook ads promoting de Blasio’s agenda and asking for names and email addresses — crucial information to mount a bid for office. After de Blasio formally declared, the ads continued, but the payments began coming from the campaign, suggesting they had always been part of the White House bid.

Lastly, federal rules make no distinction between contributions between an organization such as the NY Fairness PAC and an individual — neither can donate more than $2,800. The complaint argues that the campaign violated this rule by allowing the state PAC to pay for $52,852 in exploratory expenses and then pass it off as a loan.