Mayor denies corruption allegations leveled by real estate developer

<p>Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference Saturday to respond to explosive allegations leveled at him last week by real estate developer Jona Rechnitz, the government's star witness in the trial of the former head of the nation's largest municipal jail guard union.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Oct 29, 2017, 5:18 PM

Updated 2,695 days ago

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Mayor Bill de Blasio held a press conference Saturday to respond to explosive allegations leveled at him last week by real estate developer Jona Rechnitz, the government's star witness in the trial of the former head of the nation's largest municipal jail guard union.
Rechnitz told jurors in the trial of ex-union boss Norman Seabrook Thursday that he bought access to the mayor with big contributions to his 2013 campaign.
Rechnitz, 34, of Los Angeles, said de Blasio visited him after he promised to contribute between $50,000 and $100,000 to the Democrat's campaign for mayor. He said he ultimately contributed $100,000.
Mayor de Blasio offered a staunch denial of those allegations during the press conference.
He called Rechnitz a liar and said he wished he had never met him.
Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.