Cuomo: I’ll keep Donald Trump’s cash, vote for Clinton
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he won't return GOP front-runner Donald Trump's $46,500 in donations to his campaigns since 2009. This photo is from Dec. 27, 2015. Credit: Bloomberg News / Andrew Harrer
ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Thursday he won’t give back the past campaign contributions made to him by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.
State records show the billionaire Manhattan developer and his wife have contributed $46,500 to the Democratic governor since 2009, including $25,000 on June 15, 2009. That’s when Cuomo, a popular attorney general, ran for and won his first term as governor.
Cuomo, an early supporter of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, has repeatedly criticized Trump directly and indirectly for his bombast on the campaign trail and hard line against immigration and Muslims.
“Why should I give the money back?” Cuomo said at a news conference Thursday. “I don’t plan to vote for him, that’s my remedy to that. . . . He supported my campaign and I was grateful he supported the campaign. I don’t support his presidential campaign.”
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
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