Mount Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis is facing new accusations.
Davis is accused of asking staff members at City Hall to write letters on his behalf to a judge who will sentence him next month on tax charges.
He has denied the allegations. Davis insists a three-page memo on how to write letters on his behalf and where to send them was drafted and given to supporters at their request.
Davis says he knows that forcing his employees to write nice letters about him would be wrong and against the law.
The 76-year-old is facing federal prison time after pleading guilty in October to not filing personal income taxes in 2011.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 26. He faces up to two years in prison.