Cuomo Donations From Western NY Politico Under Criminal Investigation Subject Of Probe

From the Buffalo News:

All of G. Steven Pigeon’s recent political contributions – including those to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo – are “fair game” in the probe of his fundraising activities, according to a source familiar with the state investigation.

Investigators are focused on the origin of about $150,000 in contributions by the Buffalo political operative, mostly in 2012 and 2013, said the source, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.

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Pigeon, 54, who served for seven years as Erie County Democratic chairman, remains the central figure in an investigation into possible corruption that prompted agents of the FBI, State Police and state Attorney General’s Office to search his waterfront condominium May 28. The same agencies also executed simultaneous search warrants at the homes of Steven M. Casey, former first deputy mayor of Buffalo, and Christopher M. Grant, chief of staff to Rep. Chris Collins, R-Clarence.

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While Pigeon has always insisted that any money donated to political causes and candidates stemmed from his own funds, new questions surround his ability to make large contributions following revelations that he owes the federal government more than $244,000 in back taxes.

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New interest is focused on at least two significant contributions or loans that Pigeon made in late 2013 – including donations of almost $100,000 to the caucus and $54,000 to Cuomo, especially a $50,000 contribution in connection with the governor’s 2012 birthday bash at Manhattan’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

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In February, Pigeon revealed his tax returns to The Buffalo News to indicate a more than healthy income in the mid-six figures. But the contention that he was financially capable of such hefty contributions occurred 11 months after he negotiated a tax repayment plan with the Internal Revenue Service as he was incurring even more tax problems with the federal government.

Investigators are now curious about his ability to finance such significant contributions to Cuomo and the caucus, according to several sources.

The source familiar with the investigation said Pigeon’s connection to the Cuomo campaign also interests investigators.

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Several sources confirm that Pigeon was involved in Cuomo’s Western New York campaign, including participating in periodic conference calls coordinated by Joseph Percoco, a longtime top aide to the governor.

You can see more here about the Pigeon/Cuomo connection.

Looks like Cuomo's now got to fight a two front war against criminal probes - the feds in the US attorney's office looking into Moreland tampering and Albany corruption and now state investigators out of the AG's office running a probe into Cuomo's Western New York political crony.