Andrew Cuomo says he's keeping Donald Trump's campaign cash

Jon Campbell | Albany Bureau

Show Caption Hide Caption Cuomo: 'That's not who we are' Gov. Andrew Cuomo spoke Wednesday, June 27, 2018, about a new law aimed at keeping immigrant families together.

ALBANY - Gov. Andrew Cuomo has no plans to give back any money President Donald Trump contributed to his campaign over the years.

Cuomo was asked Thursday whether he intends to return the $58,000 Trump has contributed to his political efforts since 2006, with the most recent donations coming in 2009.

The governor, a Democrat who has been highly critical of the Republican president's positions on immigration and federal tax reform, said he has no intention of doing so.

"No, not at all," Cuomo said. "I will be deeply critical of him and keep the contributions.”

Cuomo, known for his fundraising prowess, has amassed a campaign fund of more than $30 million as he faces a primary challenge from actor Cynthia Nixon and a general election battle with Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, a Republican.

Seven Trump contributions

Nixon targeted the Cuomo campaign's Trump money as a line of attack this week, launching a series of web advertisements faulting Cuomo for accepting the cash and a fundraising pitch of her own seeking to capitalize on it.

State disclosure records show Cuomo accepted seven separate contributions from Trump, all from 2006 through 2009.

Cuomo also accepted six contributions totaling $11,000 from Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter, from 2006 through 2011.

In a statement, Nixon's campaign criticized Cuomo for keeping Trump's contributions.

"Governor Cuomo cannot serve as a defense against Donald Trump when he’s accepted tens of thousands of dollars from him," Nixon spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said.

Cuomo's campaign campaign called Nixon's advertisements a "cheap distraction from a campaign gasping for air," noting Trump weighed a run against Cuomo in 2014.

JCampbell1@Gannett.com

Jon Campbell is a correspondent for USA TODAY Network's Albany Bureau.

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