Friday, July 12, 2019

Former Members of NY Senate IDC Settle Unlawful Campaign Donation Case


Eight Former Members of the New York State Senate's defunct Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) have paid $275,000 to settle Allegations they took Millions in Unlawful Campaign Donations.

2018 IDC Members

Jeffrey D. Klein, Independent Democratic Conference Leader & Majority Coalition Leader

David Valesky, Deputy Independent Democratic Conference Leader for Legislative Operations

David Carlucci, Independent Democratic Conference Whip - 38th District

Diane Savino, Independent Democratic Conference Liaison to the Executive Branch - 23rd District

Tony Avella, Assistant Conference Leader for Policy and Administration

Jose Peralta

Jesse Hamilton

Marisol Alcantara

The Settlement was Finalized July 9th between the Senators, only Two who are still in Office, and Risa Sugarman, the Chief Enforcement Counsel for the State Board of Elections.

In January, Sugarman sought more than $8.6 Million in Penalties and Fines from Senators, Campaign Staff, and Party Officials connected to a Fundraising Partnership between the Independence Party and the IDC, which controversially Partnered with Republicans to run the Chamber for Half a Decade.

The Case was against moving House Account Money from the Independence Party to the IDC's House Account and how the IDC used the Transferred Money.

“We are confident we would have prevailed in this case,” said Lawrence Mandelker, the IDC’s Election Lawyer, in a Statement. “However, the financial cost would have been substantially more than this settlement and would have resulted in campaign staff and treasurers being adversely economically affected. This decision to settle allows those still in the Senate to continue focusing on the important issues facing New Yorkers and those defeated to move on with their lives.”

The Settlement Agreement does Not include the State Independence Party or its Officials, including Frank MacKay, the Party’s Chairman.

Sugarman’s Case against the Independence Party, which seeks $17,000 in Fines and the Return of $171,000 Party Money to Donors, is still Pending. The Independence Party is Represented by a Different Lawyer in the matter.

The former IDC Members and their Associates were allowed to Pay Off the $275,000 in whatever manner they chose.

It was Not immediately clear which Senators’ Campaign Accounts had Paid Off the amount.









NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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