De Blasio Defends Former Nonprofit Against State Investigation

Mayor Bill de Blasio defended his former political non-profit on Tuesday against an investigation led by a state ethics panel known as the Joint Commission on Public Integrity, or JCOPE.

The panel had been investigating the Campaign for One New York for a year, and the group has cooperated. That ended Friday when the nonprofit's attorney sent a 12-page letter to JCOPE saying it would no longer respond to the panel's subpoenas.

“When an entity goes beyond its legal purview, possibly for the wrong motivations, there's a point at which you say enough is enough,” De Blasio told reporters during his first media availability since the letter.

He also suggested his political rival, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was pulling the strings, without actually saying his name.

“I think the history of how JCOPE was created and who it responds to is quite clear,” said de Blasio.

When JCOPE was established in 2011, Cuomo touted it as an independent monitor. He currently appoints the chair and half of its 14 members.

JCOPE is asking a court to order the Campaign for One New York to comply with its subpoenas.

This is only one of several investigations into the conduct of Mayor de Blasio’s political fundraising arm and other parts of his administration.