Feds interview de Blasio in corruption probe

Image 1 of 2

Mayor Bill de Blasio

Mayor Bill de Blasio met with federal prosecutors of Manhattan U.S. Attorney General Preet Bharara's Public Corruption Unit for several hours Friday about his campaign financing and if he exchanged favors for donors.

The interview took place for four hours inside de Blasio's attorney's office. The AP reported that Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Goldstein, the head of the Public Corruption unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Capone were seen entering the building.

Investigators are examining whether de Blasio engaged in corruption to benefit his 2013 campaign or to his shuttered nonprofit, the Campaign for One New York.

De Blasio's relationship with rabbi and political fundraiser Moishe Indig has been under close scrutiny, reported the New York Times. Indig is a leader in Williamsburg's Hasidic community. He hosted a fundraising event for de Blasio in Oct. 2013.

“We are absolutely confident that the mayor and our City Hall staff have acted appropriately and well within the law at all times,” Eric F. Phillips, a spokesman for the mayor, told the Times.

Grand juries have also been hearing evidence into state and federal inquiries into the de Blasio administrations fundraising practices.