New York Mayor Bill de Blasio bolstered his bid for re-election after federal and state prosecutors decided not to charge him in corruption investigations.
The politician has faced two separate probes into his fundraising efforts, specifically the financing of his mayoral campaign in 2013 and the Democratic campaign for the New York Senate in 2014.
But Joon Kim, the acting US attorney in Manhattan, said that after “careful deliberation” there were no plans to bring federal criminal charges against the 55-year-old or aides who acted on his behalf in fundraising efforts.
The prosecutor added that this kind of announcement was rare, but “appropriate in this case at this time” so that the mayoral campaign and November election would not be unduly influenced.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who had been investigating the 2014 Senate campaign, also announced that there would be no charges.
The news will come as a relief to de Blasio, who has been dogged by questions over the probes as he gears up to run for a second term.
The outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump has a good chance of re-election if no other big name comes forward.
In recent weeks rumors have spread of Hillary Clinton throwing her hat in the ring — speculation that the former Democratic presidential candidate has neither given credence nor shot down.
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