ALBANY – From legal fees and fancy cars to golf outings and trips, the city’s state lawmakers are using their campaign committees as “personal petty-cash funds,” a Post review of state campaign-finance records shows.
“The law is so rotten and loophole-riddled that lawmakers can basically justify everything as a campaign expense, except maybe their mortgages,” said Blair Horner, of the New York Public Interest Research Group.
The campaign for embattled Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV – the Manhattan Democrat who has twice been accused of rape in recent months – is paying $378.69 to lease a BMW, according to the campaign filings, which cover the first six months of the year.
He is not alone. The campaign for Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) uses money to lease a car, and Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Queens) used $10,000 for a down payment on a car, according to filings.
Sen. Frank Padavan (R-Queens) spent more than $1,400 on auto repairs. He told The Post he uses campaign money to pay a portion of repair work and auto insurance because he often uses his car for official business.
The expenditures are not illegal, but the lines can get blurry. According to the law, campaign money cannot be converted for personal use that is “unrelated to a political campaign or the holding of a public office or party position.”
Horner says almost anything can fall under that definition.
“Campaign contributions are the personal petty-cash funds of elected officials, where the money is provided by special-interest groups,” he said.
Former state Sen. Guy Velella, the Bronx Republican who resigned in May before pleading guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit bribery, used $90,000 from his campaign between January and March to pay his high-powered lawyers at Stillman & Friedman.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) in the last six months spent $15,000 on lawyers.
Meanwhile, some lawmakers used campaign funds to pay for trips.
Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan) went to the Dominican Republic; Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) went to New Orleans for a fundraiser, and Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) went to Jamaica for a conference.
Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) spent $2,750 to play golf at various events he listed as fundraisers.
And no expense seems too small for lawmakers who get paid a minimum $79,500 a year.
Sen. Thomas Duane (D-Manhattan) dipped into his campaign account for $19.49 to pay for Krispy Kreme and $20.62 to eat at Mild Wally’s, a local Albany pizza and wing joint.
Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Queens) spent about $1,100 on flowers, and Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn) spent $165 on Valentine’s Day candy.