State Attorney General Indicts New York City Councilman

Earlier today, New York City Councilman Ruben Wills (D-Queens) was indicted by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office “for allegedly pocketing both public campaign funds and charitable grant money for personal benefit.”

The Attorney General alleges that during the 2009 campaign for his City Council seat, Wills sought and obtained matching funds from the New York City Campaign Finance Board. But instead of using the funds for campaign expenditures as city law requires, Wills’ campaign committee paid $11,500 to a shell company, which then transferred the funds to a non-profit under Wills control. At that point, he is alleged to have used the funds for personal purposes.

After his arraignment earlier today, Councilman Wills said that he is innocent of these charges, and intends to fight them.

Read coverage from the Daily Politics blog, the New York Times, and DNAinfo.

Read the indictment here.