Kathy Hochul and other top NY Democrats accused of 'abusing' power to party at Buffalo Bills luxury suite

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a recent development that has stirred controversy in New York's political circles, Gov Kathy Hochul and other top Democrats have been accused of converting a luxury suite at the Buffalo Bills stadium into a private party room during a high-profile game last year.

The allegations, brought to light by a complaint filed with the state's ethics watchdog, suggest misuse of public resources for personal gain.

Ethical concerns raised

According to the complaint, filed by lawyer David Grandeau with the NYS Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, Gov Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Majority Leader Crystal People-Stokes commandeered a VIP luxury suite during the December 17, 2023, game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The guest list reportedly included a lobbyist with ties to Heastie, per the New York Post.

Grandeau's letter to the commission asserts that the officials "secured the benefit of the use of the box and the tickets for themselves and their guests for their private benefit and/or non-governmental purposes."

Grandeau - previously the state’s chief regulator of the lobbying industry - added, “They clearly abused their power to generate a valuable perk for themselves and the lobbyists that accompanied that was not available to everyday New York citizens and taxpayers.”

Among those in attendance were Heastie's alleged girlfriend, lobbyist Rebecca LaMorte, and lobbyist-college friend Patrick Jenkins, along with his wife, Dawn Cotter-Jenkins. Interestingly, Hochul's husband, William Hochul, a former administrator with the Buffalo Bills' concessionaire, was also present in the state-controlled suite.

Despite these connections, Hochul attempted to downplay the significance of Heastie's presence, suggesting it was merely a reflection of their friendly rivalry as fans of opposing football teams.

“As Buffalonians, @CPeoplesStokes  and I both believe in tolerance for those with opposing opinions… and that’s why we decided to allow a certain @dallascowboys fan to join us at the@BuffaloBills  game,” Hochul said of Heastie on X. “Sorry about the score, @CarlHeastie! Let’s go Buffalo!,” she added, referring to the Bills 31-10 victory.

However, Grandeau and others have raised questions about the propriety of the officials' actions, particularly regarding the transparency of their attendance and the nature of their discussions at the event.

The complaint highlights concerns about the use of government positions to gain access to exclusive perks, such as luxury suite tickets, which may not be available to ordinary citizens.

In response to the allegations, Hochul's office maintained that she followed all guidelines governing the use of the suite and made charitable donations to cover the cost of attendance.

“Following the guidelines governing the ESD suite, Governor Hochul gathered with members of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and Western New York leaders at the Bills game where they discussed the region’s infrastructure and economic growth. The Governor followed all State guidelines regarding usage of this space, including using personal funds to pay $531.00 to cover the cost of tickets,” Hochul spokesman Avi Small said.

Similarly, Heastie's office stated that their request to utilize the suite was honored as a courtesy by the Empire State Development Corporation (ESD), which oversees the suite's operation. “All guests were notified of the rules regarding lobbyists’ attendance and public reporting requirements in advance of the game,” they said.

Despite these reassurances, Grandeu argued that the value of the tickets and the nature of the event raise ethical red flags. The reported donation amounts allegedly do not align with the actual market value of such luxury suite tickets, which could range significantly higher.

Grandeu told the Post, “What was lobbyist Patrick Jenkins doing in the suite? How did he get access? This is a simple case. You can’t use your government position to see your favorite team in a luxury box. It’s wrong. Enough is enough."

Social media backlash

The controversy surrounding the alleged misuse of the luxury suite has reignited debates about political ethics and accountability in New York. Social media platforms have been flooded with reactions following the complaint against HochulHeastie, and People-Stokes.

"No surprise," one wrote on X.

"Of course, they’re corrupt, DUH," another chimed in.

"Aren't they banned from getting free tickets to sports events? This is even worse," someone else offered.

"This is what New Yorkers voted for! It's too late to cry the blues now!" another reacted.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.