Cuomo loses out on nearly $3M in public campaign funds over digital payment flubs
Share this @internewscast.com

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo missed the chance to secure close to $3 million in public matching funds for his attempt to become New York City’s mayor. This was due to his campaign’s inability to correctly handle digital payment submissions, as revealed in new emails.

According to communications reviewed by The Post, Cuomo’s team seemingly ignored consistent advice from the City Campaign Finance Board. They recommended against using Apple Pay or Google Pay for donation requests without prior authorization and stressed the importance of closely monitoring online contributions.

On March 3, just two days after Cuomo announced his mayoral run, his campaign was explicitly informed that donations via tap phone payments were not permissible and that “Electronic Funds Transfers” required additional verification letters to confirm each donor’s details, the emails indicate.

Campaign attorneys conceded they “weren’t set up” to accept mobile and electronic payments, but said they would charge ahead with taking them anyway.

Political candidates usually register their campaigns with the CFB in hopes of becoming eligible for the city’s public funds program, in which every $1 of contributions less than $2,100 made by New Yorkers is matched with $8 in taxpayer cash.

In order to be eligible for these matching funds, candidates must go through a lengthy process ensuring donors’ addresses and payment methods are verified.

The board warned the Cuomo team multiple times over the months-long correspondence that to get mobile payments approved, the campaign would have to provide a signed affirmation letter for every such donation.

The CFB stressed that while the campaign could still collect those contributions, they would “not be considered eligible for match with public funds per Board Rules.”

The Cuomo camp attempted the major feat of collecting affirmation letters for over 50 donors, but it eventually became clear that the campaign wouldn’t be getting all of the required documentation — landing it in hot water with the CFB.

On April 11th, four days before the deadline to submit the information, the board dropped the bomb that despite team Cuomo’s efforts: “All contributions collected through the (online) platform, […] are invalid for match due to the lack of compliance with the requirement that the contributor actively agrees to an online affirmation statement.”

That prompted a last-minute scramble from the campaign, which sent out email to donors begging for the affirmation letters just two days before the April 15 deadline.

The email — which went out the morning of April 13 — came with the subject line line “Urgent – Action Required” and stressed, “THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.”

“We need you to complete the form included in this additional email, TODAY IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. We apologize for the inconvenience, but it is critical that we get these forms back as soon as possible.”

But the warning came too late — and cost the ex-gov roughly $2.7 million in matching funds off $332,530 raised.

Cuomo’s lawyer even asked for concessions the day after the deadline on April 16th, desperately trying to remedy the situation and reverse the CFB’s decision.

But the CFB doubled down that they had warned the Cuomo team about electronic payments.

“I looked back at our correspondence about the use of Apple Pay and Google Pay for contributions collected through NGP VAN and I mentioned the following: Contributions made (1) by Apple Pay and Google Pay, (2) through NGP VAN and (3) without the address verification and ZIP code checks performed are permissible. However, these contributions will not be considered eligible for match with public funds per Board Rules,” the CFB’s campaign advisor said.

The trouble doesn’t seem to have ended there – potentially bleeding over into the CFB’s next round of matching funds – which are set to be released May 23.

As recently as April 18, Cuomo’s team signaled ongoing troubles with the pesky affirmation letters – and appeared to still be attempting to find a way to use the payment methods.

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said a “technical software error” was to blame for the campaign losing out on the majority of the matching funds.

He also said that the snafus with Apple and Google Pay could be attributed to it being the early days of the campaign — and that staffers quickly learned the payment methods would not be accepted.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Nigel Farage giving a speech.

Farage Delivers on His Promise: Labour Takes a Hit, While Tories Risk Losing Their Opposition Status

NIGEL FARAGE not only tipped over the apple cart of English politics,…
17 students taken to hospital after Chicago bus crash

17 Students Hospitalized Following Bus Accident in Chicago

More than two dozen students were taken to the hospital on Friday…
Forensic experts investigating a bomb explosion scene.

38-Year-Old Woman Killed in Greece Blast as Police Investigate Possible Bank Bombing Plot

A WOMAN has been killed after the bomb she was carrying exploded…
Trump administration to cut staffing at CIA, NSA and other intelligence agencies

Reduction in Staffing Levels Announced for CIA, NSA, and Intelligence Agencies by Trump Administration

The White House is aiming to decrease staffing levels at the CIA…
Headshot of Jean-Francois Guerrier.

First Photo of Friend Who Discovered Murdered British Mum in French Village Minutes After Leaving Her

THE pal that discovered murdered Brit Karen Carter in rural France has…
Mugshot of Alexis Von Yates.

Nurse allegedly manipulated 15-year-old stepson for a week before enticing him into sexual acts using flirtation and whipped cream.

A NURSE allegedly groomed her 15-year-old stepson over the course of a…
Minneapolis police arrest suspect in mass shooting that left 4 dead, 1 injured

Minneapolis Police Detain Suspect in Shooting Spree Resulting in 4 Fatalities, 1 Injury

Minneapolis police announced late Thursday that a suspect involved in a mass…
Screenshot of a young woman's TikTok video announcing her upcoming graduation from nursing school.

Heart-wrenching last video of British nursing student and TikToker, 23, before tragic stabbing fatality in Texas apartment

THE heartbreaking final post of a British nursing student who was brutally…
2 deputies injured in Missouri shooting, highway patrol investigating

Two Deputies Hurt in Missouri Shooting, Highway Patrol Conducts Investigation

Two deputies in Pettis County, Missouri, were injured on Friday after a…
Feel-Good Friday: Patriotism Is Still Being Taught in Schools, As Gen Alpha Gives Us Hope for Future

Feel-Good Friday: Schools Continue to Teach Patriotism, Giving Hope for the Future with Gen Alpha

This past Sunday, April 27, a wonderful celebration of community and patriotism…
Minneapolis shooting suspect is charged with four homicides. The Native American community is shaken

Suspect in Minneapolis Shooting Faces Four Homicide Charges, Stirring Tremors in the Native American Community

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Six individuals who were acquainted with one another were…
Hamas fighters carrying rifles at a hostage handover in Gaza.

Hamas Members Involved in Heinous Acts to Face First Israeli Execution in 60 Years

EVIL Hamas terrorists who slaughtered, raped and tortured innocent civilians on October…