LaValle: GOP to return $100G Levy donation

Suffolk Republican chairman John Jay LaValle said Tuesday that he's returning a $100,000 donation that County Executive Steve Levy gave the party two weeks before announcing that he's not running for re-election.

Levy announced on March 24 that he would not seek re-election, saying "questions" had been raised about his campaign fundraising. He agreed to turn over his $4-million campaign war chest to District Attorney Thomas Spota.

Levy's contribution to the GOP on March 10 appeared to mark the largest single contribution to the Suffolk County Republican Committee Campaign Account.

LaValle said in a statement Tuesday that he could not "in good conscience" allow the party's campaign committee "to keep this money. While it was accepted in good faith and without knowledge of any impending investigation, if it was raised inappropriately, it must be returned."

"It has become increasingly obvious that Mr. Levy's knowledge of this matter may have preceded the contribution . . ." LaValle said. "While every political committee must fundraise in order to be competitive, it was unfair of Mr. Levy to give such a contribution, knowing it would necessarily taint the party."

He declined to elaborate, though he acknowledged he'd asked Levy to "contribute to the team."

Levy, through spokesman Dan Aug, declined to comment. In an interview Friday, Levy would say only that he made the donation because it had been requested, and agreed to, before he agreed to give back his remaining campaign coffers. He declined to comment further.

LaValle said he will be contacting Spota to "inquire about the steps the [party] committee must undertake to return the money. As a result of this matter, the party must commence a repayment plan for the $100,000 immediately."