Liu Files Lawsuit Against NYC CFB

Earlier today, former New York City Comptroller John Liu announced that he has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the New York City Campaign Finance Board’s (NYC CFB) decision to deny him public matching funds during last year’s New York City mayoral race.  His complaint argues that the CFB’s decision was a “death sentence” to his campaign. (Liu finished a distant fourth in the race.)

The cases arose out of the NYC CFB’s August 2013 decision to not approve a public matching funds payment to Liu’s mayoral campaign because the Board found that there was “reason to believe that violations of the Act and Board rules have been committed by his campaign.”

While Liu himself was never accused of wrongdoing in the matter, the CFB found that his political aides solicited, received and reported “straw donations.” Liu’s campaign was convicted of lying to federal agents and obstruction of justice, while a Liu donor was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Read more on the lawsuit in the NY Post and Capital NY.