Good Govt Groups File BOE Complaint Against Former Gov Cuomo

NEW YORK, NY (09/09/2021) (readMedia)-- Today, Common Cause/NY, Reinvent Albany, League of Women Voters of New York State and NY Public Interest Research Group filed a complaint with the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) Chief Enforcement Counsel against former Governor Cuomo for using campaign funds to pay a spokesperson.

According to news reports, Cuomo is using his $18 million war chest to pay Rich Azzopardi to smear sexual harassment victims and political foes. This is a clear violation of NY Election Law 14-130 which states that campaign funds "shall not be converted by any person to a personal use which is unrelated to a political campaign or the holding of a public office or party position..." and defines converting for personal use to include "salary payments or other compensation provided to any person for services where such services are not solely for campaign purposes or provided in connection with the execution of the duties of public office or party position." Cuomo no longer holds public office and his top aide said publicly he has no current plans to run for office again.

Full complaint found here.

"Former Governor Cuomo is in clear violation of New York's election law. It is a misuse of campaign funds to keep a former spokesperson on payroll. His donors gave him money to run for public office, not for private purposes. We urge the Board of Elections to open an investigation immediately," said Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause/NY.