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A New York<\/span> state oversight board raised ethics concerns about a trip by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to Israel that a local pro-Israel Jewish group sponsored.<\/p>\n The revelation comes amid renewed scrutiny of DiNapoli\u2019s spending spree on Israel Bonds<\/a>, a financial instrument that directly funds the state of Israel. DiNapoli, the administrator of New York pension funds, is facing his first primary fight in 18 years as comptroller, and the branded, non-tradeable assets have become an issue in the race.<\/p>\n The trip was paid for by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which has a financial relationship to Israel Bonds, the organization that issues Israeli government debt securities in the U.S.<\/p>\n According to an itinerary of the trip, DiNapoli was slated to meet with Israel Bonds staffers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n In a February 2, 2024, letter to the comptroller, the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government approved reimbursement for DiNapoli by the JCRC, but raised concerns that the sponsored trip<\/a> could create an appearance of potential improper influence.<\/p>\n The ethics commission informed DiNapoli that several commissioners raised concerns \u201cthe proposed reimbursement could give reasonable basis for the impression that a person could improperly influence you,\u201d according to the letter, which was obtained through a public records request and shared exclusively with The Intercept.<\/p>\n\n
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