Formal charges filed against New York Governor Kathy Hochul and other New York Democrats for using their government positions to watch the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys play in a luxury suite last season. was held.
Hochul, along with New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and New York State Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, attended the “I Love New York” suite at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York in December. I watched the game on the 17th. 2023, match.
Attorney David Grandue sent the complaint to the New York State Commission on Government Ethics and Lobbying. new york post.
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New York State Governor Kathy Hochul speaks at Holland Broadway Elementary School on May 9, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Howard Schnapp/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
“It is clear that the public officials secured for themselves and their guests the benefit of the use of the boxes and tickets for private gain and/or non-governmental purposes,” Grandue’s letter said.
“They clearly abused their power to create valuable perks for themselves and their associated lobbyists that are not available to ordinary New Yorkers and taxpayers.”
The “I Love New York” suite is managed by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD), which reports to Hochul. It has 16 seats and is used to promote New York’s economy.
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Hochul, a Buffalo native, is an avid Bills fan, while Heastie is a Cowboys fan. It was seen on Hochul’s social media the day of the match, where she posted a photo of herself, Heastie and Peoples-Stokes.
“As Buffalonians, @CPeoplesStokes and I both believe in tolerance for those with opposing views…and that’s why we choose to tolerate certain views. [Cowboys] Fans please attend @BuffaloBills games,” she wrote.
“Sorry about the score, @CarlHeastie! Let’s go to Buffalo!”
Last season, the Bills defeated the Cowboys 31-10 on their way to the playoffs.
ESD submitted a report on Mr. Hochul and his guests’ attendance during last season’s games and said a charitable donation was made equal to the value of the seats in the suite. Hochul’s office told the New York Post that appropriate steps were taken to allow him to sit in his suite during the game.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul speaks during the State of the Union address in Albany on January 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“Following guidelines governing the ESD Suite, Governor Hochul met with members of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Western New York leaders at the Bills game to discuss regional infrastructure and economic growth. “We complied with all state guidelines,” including paying $531 in personal funds to cover the cost of the ticket,” Hochul’s spokesperson Avi Small told the New York Post.
Donations were made to FeedMore WNY.
AJ Baines, CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, also said he and Hochul had “very productive discussions about infrastructure that is so important to the future of the town of Amherst” in the room. .
ESD spokesperson Matthew Gorton also told the newspaper that Mr Heastie’s office had requested the use of the suite, which was a “courtesy honour” and that “pre-match lobbyist attendance and public reporting obligations have been We have notified all guests of the rules.”
Grandue believes the fact that a charitable donation was made proves that the suite was used for personal use, rather than as a place to operate in an official capacity.
Governor Kathy Hochul (Mike Grohl/Governor Cathy Hochul’s Office)
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“This is a simple case. You can’t use the government’s position to watch your favorite team in a luxury suite. That’s wrong. Enough is enough,” Grandue said.
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