New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie recently traveled to Rio de Janeiro for a multiday birthday celebration, prompting questions about potential ethics violations related to the trip’s funding. The event, held on September 25, included a party hosted by former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Charles Haley and was attended by Heastie alongside longtime political ally and prominent lobbyist Patrick Jenkins.
Heastie, 59, a powerful Democrat from the Bronx, shared multiple images on social media from the trip, which showcased the group enjoying festivities in Rio de Janeiro, often referred to as the “Marvelous City.” The price for similar international parties in the area typically ranges from $3,000 to over $4,000 per person, excluding airfare, raising concerns about who covered the cost of the speaker’s stay.
Patrick Jenkins, a well-established lobbyist whose career advanced alongside Heastie’s political rise, has represented significant clients including the New York Trial Lawyers Association, Sports Betting Alliance, and technology giant Google. Jenkins and Heastie’s relationship dates back to their college years as roommates at SUNY Stony Brook.
New York State ethics regulations prohibit public officials and lobbyists from accepting gifts exceeding nominal value from entities that conduct business with the state. According to the state’s Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, "state officers and employees generally are prohibited from soliciting or accepting gifts of more than ‘nominal value’ from individuals and entities that do business with the State." Exceptions exist for gifts exchanged between personal friends, provided the relationship is not used as a pretext for improper gifts.
Rachael Fauss, senior policy adviser at government watchdog group Reinvent Albany, underscored the financial implications of the trip, noting that state ethics laws limit permissible gifts to $15 total. She expressed hope that all parties adhered to these regulations considering the apparent cost involved.
Efforts to determine whether Jenkins or any of his clients financed Heastie’s travel went unanswered, as neither Heastie nor Jenkins responded to multiple requests for comment. This silence continues a pattern, as Heastie has declined to address previous ethics questions, including those related to a reported romantic involvement with lobbyist Rebecca Lamorte.
The state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, responsible for enforcing lobbying laws in New York, did not provide comment when approached. The circumstances surrounding the trip add to ongoing scrutiny of the relationships between lawmakers and lobbyists in Albany.