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Conflicts of Interest - C'est Vrai

C'est Vrai

Conflicts of Interest and Regulator Events

Les conflits d'intérêts

Transactions personnelles et influence indue

Self-Dealing and Undue Influence

C'est Vrai proäctively discloses all conflicts of interests and regulator events that are tracked in our proprietary database in an effort to promote greater Government transparency and official accountability.

Our independence allows us to link relationships to reports or allegations of corruption, self-dealing, and undue influence.

We connect the dots. For each category, we list a recent Top 10.

Conflicts of Interest

  • Boris Epshteyn, Trump Transition Team 2024

    Mr. Epshteyn was reportedly seeking retainers from individuals, who were looking for appointments to the next Trump administration. The retainers were reportedly in exchange for promoting the individuals for appointments. Mr. Epshteyn denied the allegations, according to a report published by The New York Times. President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly ordered a review of the matter.
  • Blue Origin, Donald J Trump

    The reported, brief meeting between executives of Blue Origin and presidential candidate Donald J. Trump took place as Blue Origin seeks more Government contracts. It also took place on the same day it was announced that another Jeff Bezos-owned venture, The Washington Post, was pulling a planned endorsement of Trump campaign rival, Kamala D. Harris.
  • Jesse Hamilton, NYC Dept. for the Aging Relocation Contract

    As DCAS deputy commissioner for real estate services, Jesse Hamilton has discretion over real estate contracts entered into by the City of New York Government. A news report alleged that Hamilton intervened in a City real estate lease that by-passed the winning bidder, AmTrust, and, instead, went to 14 Wall St., which is owned by a donor of Eric Adams. Separately, it's been reported that the Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating commercial leases entered into by the City.
  • Kaz Daughtry, New York Police Department

    Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry reportedly earned $60,000 in perks and overtime in 2023, despite regulations that bar such additional income for top NYPD brass, according to a report published by the New York Post. An accounting "loophole" reportedly allowed the high-ranking official to collect his former salary at a payroll grade that was eligible for extra income whilst serving in the civilian role as a deputy commissioner.
  • Tracey Collins, New York City Department of Education

    Tracey Collins has reportedly failed to appear for work in-person since November 2023, according to complaints filed with various Municipal ethics and compliance officers, raising the spectre that she gets paid for a "no-show" job, according a report published by The New York Post.
  • Aleta A LaFargue, Manhattan Plaza

    Manhattan Plaza TA President Aleta LaFargue reportedly kept mum about being offered a $20,000 per month retention agreement to allegedly drum up support for the controversial Caesars-SL Green-Roc Nation bid to operate a gambling casino in Times Square at the same time when Ms. LaFargue was reportedly representing the best interests of the tenants of Manhattan Plaza, The City reported, adding that Ms. LaFargue denied receiving payment.
  • City Safe Partners, New York City Housing Authority

    The security business once owned by Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III received an emergency Government contract from NYCHA in the amount of $154 million, according to a report published by the New York Times. Sheena Wright, the paramour of Mr. Banks' brother, David Banks, sits on the NYCHA Board of Directors, and she voted for the contract, according to a New York Times report. Municipal and Federal law enforcement are reportedly investigation this contract.
  • Karen Dunn, Kamala D Harris

    Presidential candidate Kamala Harris is reportedly receiving debate prep coaching from Google's lead attorney in the Government's anti-trust case against the tech giant.
  • Jasmine Sheppard, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development

    The Eric Adams administration apparently created a six-figure salary job for the wife of a member of the mayor's inner circle. Details of the hire had been kept under wraps for approx. two years.
  • Manhattan Community Board 5, Samir Lavingia

    Community Boards have jurisdiction over zoning issues, and Samir Lavingia "works professionally as campaign coordinator for Open New York," a pro-development group, according to a report published by The City, a news Web site.

Regulator Events

  • Erden Arkan, Eric Adams 2021

    Mr. Arkan reportedly pleaded guilty to a reported straw donor scheme that benefited the 2021 campaign committee to elect Eric Adams as New York City mayor, The New York Times reported.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Jeffrey B. Maddrey, Quathisha Epps

    Jeffrey B. Maddrey, the former Chief of Department at the NYPD, stood accused of allegedly bribing a subordinate in exchange for sex acts that took place at his 13th floor office at One Police Plaza. Mr. Maddrey's attorney, Lambros Lambrou, denied the allegations. As a result of the political earthquake now rocking the police department, the Manhattan District Attorney's Office has announced an investigation.
    Manhattan District Attorneys Office
  • Alfred Cockfield II, Striving for a Better New York

    Striving for a Better New York and its leader are reportedly the subjects of a Federal criminal investigation, according to The New York Times. The PAC was formed to support the political agenda of Mayor Eric Adams (D-New York City). However, as reported, much of the $1.3 million raised went to the leader and his associates.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Joel M. Greenberg, Seminole County

    In 2020, Mr. Greenberg was indicted by Federal prosecutors for stalking conducted whilst he was holding elected office.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida
  • Quathisha Epps, New York Police Department

    In 2003, Quathisha Epps reportedly earned over $400,000 in income from the NYPD, with the majority of that coming from earnings gained from overtime. Federal authorities are reportedly investigating the substantial amount of overtime paid to Ms. Epps, as well as allegations that Ms. Epps' supervisor authorised the overtime in exchange for sex that took place at One Police Plaza. A lawyer for the supervisor has denied the allegations.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Kimberly Gardner, St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office

    Kimberly Gardner entered into a deferred prosecution agreement to settle a Federal investigation into her misuse of public funds. As part of the agreement, Ms. Gardner admitted to the wrong-doing, including the violation of ethics rules. The violations stemmed from direction given by Ms. Gardner to her employees to reïmburse from public funds $5,004.33 in fees and costs separately imposed on Ms. Gardner by order of the Missouri Supreme Court, according to press reports.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri
  • SaferWatch, School Safety Division

    An employee of SaferWatch was reportedly served with a search warrant by Federal Law Enforcement Authorities reportedly investigating corruption in the Eric Adams administration, according to a report published by The New York Daily News.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York
  • Jose Huizar, Los Angeles City Council

    After being charged, tried, and convicted on Federal RICO charges and tax evasion, former Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar was sentenced to 13 years in Federal prison. He began serving his sentence on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.
    U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California
  • Evolv Technology, METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

    The NYC Department of Investigation is reportedly investigating the decision made by the Eric Adams administration to install Evolv weapons scanners in the subways and elsewhere, according to a report published by The New York Daily News.
    NYC Department of Investigation
  • NYC Department of Finance, New York City Sheriff's Office

    In Sept. 2024, DOI investigators took possession of cash in the safes of the New York City Sheriff’s Office. At the heart of the reported investigation, law enforcement officials are trying to determine whether the Sheriff's Office "improperly took money" from cannabis stores that it had raided and closed, according to The New York Times.
    NYC Department of Investigation