Legislators in Nassau County have filed a federal complaint alleging more than $1 million dollars in taxpayer funds were used in connection to a Donald Trump rally at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, as part of a “backroom deal” between County Executive Bruce Blakeman and the former president.
The complaint, which was filed on Thursday, said the action amounts to “an illegal, unreported in-kind campaign” contribution to the Trump campaign and the Nassau County Republican Committee.
Democratic Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, along with legislators Seth Koslow and Debra Mulé, called for an investigation by the Federal Election Commission, alleging over $1 million in taxpayers’ funds were “funneled” to subsidize the Wednesday night event, and called on Trump’s campaign to reimburse the county for expenses related to security and police overtime.
According to the complaint, the county’s “entire” 2,400-officer police force, two helicopters, firefighters, and other municipal services, were deployed to the Trump rally without any reimbursement or notification to the FEC, constituting a violation of federal campaign finance laws and undermining the integrity of the electoral process, DeRiggi-Whitton said.
“The Nassau County Republican Committee directly benefited from Mr. Trump’s appearance, as the rally was paired with a high-dollar fundraiser that generated millions of dollars for the local party,” the complaint states. “The unreported contribution of Nassau County municipal resources effectively subsidized a private political fundraiser.”
At a press conference in Mineola, DeRiggi-Whitton described the subsidization as a “backroom deal” between Blakeman and the Trump campaign. She also pointed out how The New York Times reported there was a “high-dollar fundraiser” going on at the event on the sidelines. An invitation obtained by The Times detailed the ticket prices to be $5,000 for reserved rally seating, $30,000 for a photo with Donald Trump, and a $250,000 V.I.P. Experience, according to the lawmakers’ complaint.
Blakeman’s office did not yet release an official statement on the complaint, but he called the three lawmakers’ allegations “disgraceful” in a Facebook post.
When asked by reporters about the cost of the event during a press conference on Tuesday, Blakeman said that it was “Team Trump” that is paying for the venue and to “run the show.”
Regarding the police assets, Blakeman said, “Well, we do this all the time,” noting that two weeks ago, the county provided security for the Dalai Lama, and on this coming Sunday it will be the Prime Minister of India.
Trump’s campaign has not responded to the accusation. In his own post, without mentioning Blakeman, Trump thanked “New York” under the hashtag, MAGA2024.
Despite Blakeman’s assertion that the subsidization of the event was routine and impartial, the complaint alleges that the case “exemplifies a quid pro quo exchange” between Trump and Blakeman, as he invited Trump to Nassau to energize Republican voters and bolster fundraising for the Nassau County GOP, as shown by Joseph G. Cairo Jr.’s fundraiser. In return, the lawmakers assert Blakeman unlawfully provided municipal resources that are ultimately paid for with the tax dollars of Nassau residents.
