Watchdog Group: NYC Mayor in Ethics Violation for Clinton-Sanders Debate

An ethics watchdog group says New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio violated conflict of interest laws by helping negotiate a debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, The Washington Free Beacon reports.

The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) says de Blasio, a Democrat, "strong-armed" Sanders into a one-on-one on Clinton terms by "baiting" the Vermont senator with permits for an upcoming rally he wants to hold in his native Brooklyn, according to the Free Beacon.

Both candidates had balked over the date of the debate. Clinton wanted it in Brooklyn on April 14, but Sanders had set a rally that night in New York City for which he'd obtained park permits. They later agreed on April 14 after de Blasio told Sanders on Twitter:

Let's make @NY1 4/14 BKLYN debate happen. @BernieSanders: I'll help you secure any permit you need to ensure your NYC rally can happen too.

— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) April 4, 2016

Matthew Whitaker, FACT's executive director, told the Free Beacon, "It is not only unethical, but an apparent violation of conflict of interest laws for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio to use the Office of the Mayor to advance the interests of his preferred candidate in the Democratic presidential primary race … [It's] a misuse of City resources and implies City endorsement of partisan politics."

The New York state primary will be held on April 19th.

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