Liu: Public Entitled To Campaign Donation Transparency
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City Comptroller John Liu says the public is entitled to a full accounting of his campaign finance records as a fundraising scandal involving one of his donation coordinators continues to make headlines.
Following a speaking engagement at the New York Law School this morning, Liu told reporters as the elected chief financial officer for the city, the federal charges against fundraiser Xing Wu Pan are embarrassing.
Pan posted a $100,000 bail after a court appearance Wednesday.
Prosecutors allege he tried to get around an almost $5,000 campaign contribution limit for Liu by using 20 straw donors to give a total of $16,000.
The $16,000 though was provided by an undercover agent.
This also would allow the candidate to claim more city matching funds.
Liu, a Democrat, has been considered a possible candidate for mayor in 2013.
Last night, he told donors he was still running to replace Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
When asked today what people may perceive of him as the comptroller amid the investigation, Liu said he will cooperate fully.
"This is a fundraising matter people do have a right to a full accounting and I certainly will provide that," Liu said.
Liu went on to say the accounting will come from his cooperation with the city's campaign finance board and the ongoing criminal investigation into his campaign finances.
As for Pan, if convicted of the wire fraud charges, he could get up to 20 years in prison.