Cuomo Denied $622K For 'Improper Coordination' With Super PAC: Reports

NEW YORK CITY — Former governor Andrew Cuomo has been penalized over $600,000 for allegedly improperly coordinating with a super PAC which is against campaign finance rules, according to multiple reports.

On Monday, the city's Campaign Finance Board ruled it would penalize Cuomo's campaign $622,056 for allegedly coordinating with super PAC, "Fix the City", according to Gothamist.

The campaign has been accused of “red-boxing" and posting information for the super PAC in a location where only they would see it, according to the report.

Critics have pointed to a page on his campaign website called “A Message for Voters.” The page featured details on campaign strategy and polling data.

Despite red-boxing being legal in federal races, it’s not permitted by the Campaign Finance Board.

Zellnor Myrie, a Democratic mayoral candidate, called for an investigation into the potential red box last week, according to the New York Times.

“CFB rules state that the board may determine an expenditure was not independent if the entity making the expenditure utilized strategic information or data that has been made publicly available by the candidate in a manner which the candidate knew or should have known would facilitate such utilization,” Richard Davis, a board member, said in a statement.

Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi told Gothamist they plan to challenge the fine.

“Our campaign has operated in full compliance with the campaign finance laws and rules, and everything on our website was reviewed and approved by our legal team in advance of publication," he said to the outlet.

Azzopardi also mentioned that other candidates had launched similar pages.

Also on Monday, the Cuomo campaign was awarded $1.5 million in public matching funds.

The former governor remains the front-runner in Democratic primary polls, Patch previously reported.