NEW YORK, NY: Today, Members of the New York City Council issued the following statement in support of Council Member Debi Rose (D-Staten Island), in response to allegations regarding her 2009 campaign. Council Members Margaret Chin, Corey Johnson, Brad Lander, Stephen Levin, Mark Levine, Carlos Menchaca, Rosie Mendez, Ydanis Rodriguez, Ritchie Torres, Jimmy Van Bramer, and Jumaane D. Williams issued the following statement.
STATEMENT FROM MEMBERS OF THE NYC COUNCIL
"We stand in support of our colleague, Council Member Debi Rose.
"This matter was thoroughly investigated by the United States Attorney for the Southern District, Preet Bharara, four years ago. The U.S. Attorney's office closed the case with no charges made.
"Councilmember Rose deserves exactly what the rest of us got: a timely audit of her campaign by the NYC Campaign Finance Board, and not an unjustified criminal prosecution.
"The CFB is the most rigorous campaign finance enforcement authority in the United States. They are unarguably thorough and they should be the body to determine whether her campaign violated campaign finance rules.
"The CFB extensively audited the eight other 2009 campaigns that contracted with Data and Field Services (then an affiliate of the Working Families Party). They found no wrongdoing to refer to a prosecutor. In most cases, they did not even levy a fine.
"If the CFB does find campaign finance violations or errors in Debi's 2009 campaign, they should assess a fine (as they have done with scores of City Council campaigns), and she should pay it. That doesn't make it a criminal conspiracy.
"Moving forward with prosecution, without an audit, when the U.S. Attorney has investigated and found no wrongdoing, is an abuse of prosecutorial discretion. It is an effort to criminalize normal political activity.
"Special Prosecutor Roger Adler should suspend his investigation until the CFB completes their audit.
"It is also important to note that Debi is not one of the individuals against whom charges are being brought.
"We have deep confidence in the integrity of Debi Rose."
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