Paul, from Brooklyn, was arrested on Saturday for infamously chomping the arm of a police officer during a protest against a homeless shelter, and bizarrely raised money on a public sidewalk to pay for his legal costs.
Members of the Conservative Democratic Party's City Council, Susan Chuang, were seen openly demanding money and collecting checks for Paul's “legal defense trust” on the 25-year-old's corner.th avenue and 86th A street in Bensonhurst.
The political crackdown occurred near the same location where many neighbors and ethnic Zhuang were heading to the evacuation center where they have been protesting daily for more than four months.
And Mr. Zhuang appeared to be making a fortune with potential donors.
A Post reporter spent 30 minutes at noon Saturday watching 20 people fill out forms before cutting checks. Dozens of other people had signed in earlier.
It's unclear how much she raised, but the Post spied a $200 check made to the Susan Zuan Legal Defense Trust. Those with $100 bills were also told organizers were only accepting checks.
Other mayors indicted besides Zhuang Eric Adams Paul is the only politician to ever create a legal defense trust in New York City who is fighting federal bribery charges. This is a controversial mechanism that allows elected officials to accept donations in a manner similar to political campaigns to pay for legal costs.
Mr. Zhuang's staff declined to comment, and Mr. Zhuang did not return messages.
The embattled Paul said the funds she received were used to cover the assault and arrest she suffered after allegedly sinking her teeth into the arm of NYPD Deputy Chief Frank DiGiacomo during a July 17 protest. The money will be used to cover legal costs from a myriad of criminal charges, including resisting.
Records show that Zhuang, who established the defense fund in September, had not yet reported any funding as of last month's updated disclosure filing.
However, in an effort to restore her image, she donated $25,000 from her re-election campaign fund to the famous spin shop Actum in August.
