End Citizens United (ECU) today filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) against Republican candidate for New York’s 18th Congressional District Alison Esposito. The complaint centers on Esposito using campaign funds for personal parking expenses at her out-of-district Manhattan residence. Federal campaign finance law prohibits candidates from the personal use of campaign funds.
“Alison Esposito’s gross misuse of campaign funds––money from donors who thought they were supporting her political efforts––to pay for her Upper East Side personal parking is a blatant violation of campaign finance law,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “This isn’t just an accidental error; it’s a repeat violation that dates back to her run for Lieutenant Governor. We urge the FEC to immediately launch an investigation and hold Esposito accountable.”
The complaint:
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Alison Esposito is running for Congress in New York’s 18th Congressional District, which does not include New York City.
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Esposito’s campaign committee has made $2,141 in payments to a New York City parking vendor.
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On November 22, 2023, the committee paid Icon Parking Holdings LLC $1,083 for “Travel.”
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On January 2 and February 1, 2024, the committee paid two additional, separate installments of $529, totaling $1,058, to Icon Parking – which has the same reported address as Icon Parking Holdings LLC.
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Icon Parking Systems is the “largest parking operator in Manhattan.” On its website, Icon Parking states that payments should be mailed to Icon Parking Holdings LLC (PO Box 682).
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These payments were for parking near Esposito’s Manhattan apartment in the Upper East Side.
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Esposito has a history of spending campaign funds to subsidize parking near her home. A Politico report noted that “Esposito’s campaign committee for her 2022 lieutenant governor run also made four similar payments to the Upper East Side garage.”
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Further reporting found that another Esposito-related committee, “Zeldin For New York,” had paid regularly for parking at the same garage and “continued paying the garage after losing the election.”
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Under federal campaign finance law, Esposito’s parking payments constitute personal use.
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The campaign committee paid for parking expenses that would exist irrespective of Esposito’s campaign and thus constitute personal use.
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Further, the campaign has already acknowledged these expenses were not campaign expenses.
Click here to view the complaint.
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