Former 42nd Assembly District Challenger Michele Adolphe Arrested For Failing To File Campaign Finance Disclosures

Michele Adolphe, a candidate for the 42nd Assembly district in 2014, was arrested on Wednesday for failing to file campaign finance disclosure reports with the New York State Board of Elections, according to State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

Adolphe ran against Rodnyse Bichotte in the Democratic primary for the seat of Rhoda Jacobs, who retired last year. Adolphe sued to try to remove Bichotte from the ballot before the primary, citing allegations of “widespread voter registration improprieties, highly questionable voter registration filings, and/or deceit.” However, the case was dismissed and Bichotte went on to win both the primary and the general election.

Adolphe was arrested on Wednesday after an investigation revealed her failure to disclose her campaign’s financial activity during her campaign for Assembly, according to the Attorney General’s office.

“Knowingly and willfully failing to file campaign finance disclosure reports with the New York State Board of Elections is a crime,” said Attorney General Schneiderman in a statement.

“Campaign finance disclosure ensures New Yorkers have confidence that their elected officials are serving them honestly and with transparency,” said New York State Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Counsel Risa Sugarman said in a statement. “The public has the right to know who contributes to campaigns and how candidates spend those contributions.”

Adolphe pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts of not filing her financial disclosure reports. If convicted, Adolphe faces up to one year in jail for each count.