Allegedly Used Crime Cash For Campaign
In his unsuccessful quest for re-election last year, former Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes may have broken the law, according to a city Department of Investigation report.
Published on The New York Times website on Tuesday, June 3, the 27- page summary indicated that Hynes, now 79, allegedly used proceeds from the state asset forfeiture division for campaign expenditures, misused his official email for campaign purposes and sought political advice from State Supreme Court Justice Barry Kamins.
According to The New York Times, Kamins was “relieved of all administrative duties.”
Several high-ranking members of Hynes’ staff were also implicated in the probe for possible City Charter violations.
The city Department of Investigation (DOI) launched the inquiry last November after receiving complaints from two undisclosed government entities regarding alleged misconduct by Hynes, who last year lost the Kings County District Attorney’s (KCDA) office he had occupied since 1989.
Current Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson defeated Hynes in last September’s primary in a bitter campaign. After initially indicating he would not continue his re-election campaign, Hynes reentered the race in October, running on the Republican and Conservative lines he had previously secured.
Thompson again defeated Hynes in the November general election, ending the incumbent’s 24-year prosecutorial career.
According to the DOI report, Hynes allegedly “used KCDA personnel and email resources in connection with his ultimately unsuccessful” campaign and exchanged “several thousand campaign-related emails with individuals both within and outside” his office, sometimes during normal business hours.
Reportedly, the DOI subpoenaed and reviewed 6,000 emails sent to or received by Hynes “for the 18 month period preceding” last November’s election. Emails between Hynes and Kamins, according to the DOI report, also appeared to be political in nature, as the judge allegedly advised “Hynes regarding his campaign, and that he also engaged in communications with Hynes regarding matters actively being prosecuted by the KCDA and provided Hynes with legal advice.”
Investigators also believe Hynes may have also enlisted KCDA employees to assist him in the campaign.
The inquiry also found that between Jan. 1 and Nov. 26, 2013, the KCDA office issued checks to public relations firm Matz, Blancato & Associates in amounts totaling over $219,000 between 2012 and 2013 from a subaccount titled “Asset Forfeiture.” The checks were reportedly issued for what was described as office consultation services.
“DOI’s investigation also describes possible criminal conduct with respect to the personal services Matz provided to Hynes, which services appear to have been paid for, at least in part, from KCDA state forfeiture funds,” the report noted.
The DOI stated it would refer its findings “to the appropriate civil and criminal authorities” for further investigation.
During his press conference in Ridgewood on Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio cautioned against pre-judging Hynes and others accused of potential wrongdoing.
“The charges that have been raised are very serious,” de Blasio told members of the press. “But certainly what has been reported is very troubling.”
