Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D–N.Y., said Thursday he will not be returning $64,000 in donations he received from then-businessman Donald Trump over the course of several years.
Cuomo’s primary challenger and “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon called out Cuomo for taking Trump’s money. The contributions were made before Trump became president and when he was a real estate businessman and reality television star, when he donated to both parties.
“I’m going to be deeply critical of him {Trump] and keep the contributions,” Cuomo said following a Brooklyn event, the New York Post reported.
Cuomo received financial contributions from Trump when he first ran for governor in 2002 and when he was the state attorney general in 2009.
“Andrew Cuomo will take donations from anyone,” Nixon said in a fundraising pitch to supporters. “Everyone from the Koch Brothers to fossil fuel companies have contributed, so we weren’t surprised to find out that Donald Trump has donated $64,000 to Cuomo.”
The first-time runner’s fundraising goal was to raise $64,000 by midnight Thursday to match Trump’s donations to Cuomo.
Cuomo is currently seeking his third term as New York governor.
