Key facts
- New York City Council member Christopher Marte is accused of using government staff for political fundraising.
- A whistleblower complaint was filed by Meng Qin Zou, a Chinese community liaison in Marte's office.
- Zou alleges she was directed to work on political matters, including fundraising, during office hours.
- The complaint includes text messages and records supporting Zou's claims.
- Zou also alleges she was asked to fundraise for the super PAC No More 24.
- Potential violations of ethics and campaign finance laws are cited by a legal expert.
New York City Council member Christopher Marte is facing accusations of directing government staff to engage in political fundraising activities during work hours. The allegations stem from a whistleblower complaint filed by Meng Qin Zou, a Chinese community liaison in Marte's office.
Zou claims that she and other staff members were instructed by supervisors to work on political matters, including fundraising for Marte's campaign and an outside group called No More 24, while on government time. She alleges that her objection to these duties led to an attempt by Marte's office to terminate her employment, an accusation she denies and which her union helped her contest.
The complaint, supported by text messages and other records, suggests potential violations of ethics and campaign finance laws that prohibit the use of public resources for political purposes. Marte, a Democrat, has not returned calls for comment, and his spokesperson did not respond to inquiries. A spokesperson for the Department of Investigation, the city's corruption watchdog, declined to comment.
According to the complaint, Marte's chief of staff, Caitlin Kelmar, also communicated with Zou about fundraising matters. Text exchanges provided show Marte discussing his aspirations for a potential run for public advocate and the need to fundraise early. Zou also alleges that Marte associate Steven Wong was involved in bringing campaign contributions to Marte's district office. Wong, who resigned as a senior adviser in March 2023, described himself as a "volunteer for life" and denied accusations of abusive behavior.
Marty Connor, a former New York state senator and campaign finance lawyer, stated that the allegations, if true, indicate potential violations of conflict of interest and ethics rules. He noted that such violations can result in fines, and egregious cases could be referred for prosecution. The Department of Investigation typically reviews complaints to determine if a formal investigation is warranted.