Mayor Eric Adams’ legal defense fund has raised only $2,200 from two donors in the last three months, amid mounting expenses related to federal corruption charges ahead of an expected April trial.
The new donations came from Tzvi Odzer, a convicted bank fraudster with multiple aliases who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump in 2021. Odzer donated $2,000 to Adams’ legal defense fund and another $1,000 to his reelection campaign last year.
Another donor, Alan Sclar, an attorney, also contributed to the fund, although details about his donation are scarce. The total amount raised by Adams’ legal defense fund now stands at around $1.65 million.
The trust has paid out over $2.5 million since its establishment in late 2023 and now has a negative balance of roughly $900,000 due to high legal fees. In recent months, the trust has refunded contributions from family members of city officials who are prohibited from donating.
Adams’ defense team is expected to continue facing significant expenses as his trial approaches. The mayor’s predecessor, Bill de Blasio, also faced similar financial challenges during his time in office and left City Hall with outstanding legal bills that remain unpaid.
Source: https://www.thecity.nyc/2025/01/15/eric-adams-legal-defense-donors-trump-pardon