New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo (D), until August 25th, Has $18 Million in Campaign Cash. What Can He Do With It?

The huge War Chest is the most Money retained by a Departing New York Politician in recent Memory.

Even after his Resignation takes effect, Cuomo will still Control the Largest pot of Campaign Cash in New York Politics, an $18 Million War Chest, amassed in preparation for a run at a Fourth Term in 2022.

That prospect now seems remote: Mr. Cuomo, accused of sexually harassing nearly a dozen women, announced Tuesday that he would step down as he faced the threat of impeachment and a chorus of calls for his resignation.

A Person familiar with the Governor’s Campaign said that so far, there had Not been many Requests for Refunds.

State Campaign Finance Rules limit how Cuomo can Spend the Money. He Cannot use the Money: to Pay Himself, Purchase a New Car, Rent a House once he leaves the Governor’s Mansion. He recently sold his House, so he needs a Real Estate Agent.

Nor can he use the Funds to Run for Federal Office or in New York City, where the Campaign Finance Rules are more Stringent. The State Legislature could still Impeach him, so he can't run for Statewide Office. There is also a chance they will try to take away his Pension.

Cuomo is permitted to give to Nonprofits, provided the Groups are Registered in New York and he does Not have Connections to them.

He can also make Political Donations to Candidates or to State and Local Party Organizations, and has the means to do so in many Races. Such Contributions can be a way to buttress like-minded Candidates and are usually welcomed, particularly in Tight Races. But Candidates may be wary of Accepting Money from Cuomo.

He is Free to spend the Money on anything that would be construed as Campaign-Related. In that, there can be some room for Interpretation, Campaign Finance Lawyers said. He could spend it on an effort at Rehabilitating his Image or even on Travel, so long as the Activities could be pegged in some way to his past Government Service or a Future Campaign for State Office, if the Legislature allows it.

“The law is not precise when it comes to the use of excess campaign funds,” said Kenneth A. Gross, an Expert in Campaign Finance Law. “How they can be used depends on the facts.”

What is clear is that Cuomo could use the Campaign Funds to conduct Polling or create Political Ads, and Test the waters for a Comeback.

He could also face Court Cases for his actions with Women. Some of the 11 Women mentioned in the AG's report have begun Cases against him.

His Administration is under fire for Undercounting the Number of Nursing-Home Deaths caused by Covid-19 in the first half of 2020, a Scandal that deepened after a Times Investigation found that Aides Rewrote a Health Department Report to Hide the Real number. Interviews and Unearthed Documents revealed, in April, that Aides repeatedly Overruled State Health Officials in Releasing the True Nursing Home Death toll for Months. Several Senior Health Officials have Resigned in response to the Governor’s overall handling of the Pandemic, including the Vaccine Rollout.

Cuomo has already used his Campaign Money to Defend himself against Legal Threats and in the Court of Public Opinion: Rita Glavin, his Personal Lawyer, who spoke before his Resignation Speech and has regularly appeared on television defending him, received $285,000 for her Firm, according to the Cuomo Campaign’s most recent Filing, which covers a Period through early July. She most likely Received further Payments, as New Filings are Not due until early next year.

More of an Open Question is whether Cuomo could use that Money to Pay for Lawyers representing other Members of his Administration, or to reach Settlements with the Women who have Accused him of Harassment, or to Defend himself against any possible Criminal Charges in connection with his Personal Conduct, Campaign Finance Experts said. “The law is very complicated on issues that should not be so complicated,” said Laurence D. Laufer, a Campaign Finance Lawyer. “The statute really allows for a broad use of campaign funds for legal expenses that relate to the campaign or to public office or party position.”

Even if he were Barred from Future Office after an Impeachment, he would Not lose access to the Funds. He would still be able to make Political or Charitable Donations, Campaign Finance Lawyers said. But A Blll, introduced Wednesday, in the State Senate, proposed to Change that.

And nothing requires Cuomo, who is 63, to spend the Campaign Money quickly. He is free to bide his time for as long as he would like. The only Time Limit is death. After a Candidate dies, their Campaign Funds must be Distributed within a certain period, Campaign Finance Lawyers said.










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