Rita glavin wikipedia7/22/2023 ![]() Records show Cuomo has already begun to do the same, dipping into campaign coffers to pay off his personal attorney Rita Glavin’s firm more than $284,000. Many disgraced state legislators before Cuomo used campaign funds to pay off legal debts including former State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the late Assemblymember and Brooklyn Democratic party boss Vito Lopez, without repercussions. There are relatively few restrictions on what state campaign finance funds can be spent on, according to New York state election law, and efforts to tighten the law in the state legislature have stalled.Įxperts point to instances where state lawmakers have spent c ampaign funds for car repairs or lavish parties. He resigned in disgrace in early August following allegations of sexual harassment from 11 women corroborated by a State Attorney General investigation, and an array of other ethical concerns. ![]() In a statement Azzopardi said he was, "on board to help answer press inquires related to the Governor’s time in office and ongoing legal reviews - which is permissible.” He added he called himself a "bulldog spokesman," ironically, recycling a nickname given to him City and State.Ĭuomo had more than $18 million in his coffers through July, nearly five times more than anyone declared or rumored to be running for governor next year and there have been questions and speculation around what the embattled former governor will do with all the cash. The Board of Elections didn't return a request for comment on the complaint. The groups want the state BOE to open an investigation to determine how Azzopardi is being paid and, if it is with campaign funds, to stop it and impose other enforcement measures like a fine. Since Cuomo has said he has no interest in running for office again, Lerner said paying Azzopardi with campaign funds is a “violation of the black letter of the law.” ![]() “The election law is very clear that campaign funds can’t be converted to personal use,” said Susan Lerner, the executive director of Common Cause New York, the organization that initiated and invited others to sign on to the complaint.Įlection law states that “personal use” includes paying salaries for any purpose other than for a campaign or fulfilling the responsibilities of elected office.
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