Mayor Kenney vows to clean up audit issues over DNC security funds

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is defending how the city used of a federal grant for security during the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Kenney is reacting to an audit questioning how near $15 million of the grant was spent.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance grant audit covered the $49 million Philadelphia got to help with the costs associated with security at the convention. Kenney says the city is acting to fix issues found in the audit.

“The audit that was conducted by the [Department of Justice] in conjunction with the Inspector General there were 13 findings 12 were deemed resolved by the OIG and we are closing them out. The 13th is an issue between the DOJ and the OIG, and the inspector general relative to their approval of contracts which is not part of the city’s response. So we’re almost just about completed,” he said.

The audit says Philadelphia didn’t provide enough records of where the money was spent and let the Democratic National Convention Committee get too closely involved.

The mayor says the city did its best at a stressful time to deal with the massive security needs.

He’s promising all the money will be accounted for.

“The grant was given to keep people safe, it was a very contentious convention, there were lots of groups protesting in the streets there was lots of anger and divisiveness. Everyone was safe we made no arrests,” he said.