October 24, 2010
Two more candidates have agreed to return campaign cash connected to the growing pay-to-play corruption scandal that’s ensnared the entire Democrat leadership of the State Senate, but Senator Aubertine continues to dodge
The Buffalo News reports that Western NY Senator Antoine Thompson will return thousands of dollars he’s received that was connected to the Aqueduct casino scandal that is the subject of a scathing, 308-page Inspector General’s corruption report. And Westchester Democrat Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins said she would also return contributions linked to the leaders.
Earlier, Democrat challenger Joanne Yepsen of Saratoga, and the party’s pick for Attorney General, State Sen. Eric Schneiderman, another Aubertine colleague, said they would also give back the cash.
Schneiderman decried the scandal and the behavior of the Senate leaders as "horrendous."
But Aubertine, who has received more campaign cash from entities tied to the scandal-scarred leaders than any other Democrat—more than $500,000 in total—won’t even comment on the I.G.’s findings, telling an Albany radio station that he has yet to see it, and has refused to say if he will return the donations.
"Senator Aubertine says he stands up to his downstate Senate leaders, but three days have passed since the Inspector General exposed a massive corruption scandal involving those same leaders, and Senator Aubertine has no opinion, won’t say a word, and is happy to continue accepting their money and support," said State Senate candidate Patty Ritchie.
"Senator Aubertine has never had a problem following his leaders’ directions when it comes to casting his vote for record spending and taxes. But he should draw the line when it comes to unethical actions that take advantage of taxpayers. He should stand up and do what’s right."
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