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Cuomo donating illegal $25K campaign contribution

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WBFO News

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's re-election campaign says it will make a charitable donation with a $25,000 political contribution that was illegally arranged by former top Democratic official Steven Pigeon.

Ex-Erie County Democratic Chairman Steve Pigeon pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge on Tuesday. Prosecutors say he funneled a contribution from a Canadian executive, knowing that foreign donations to campaigns are illegal.

Cuomo's campaign initially rejected the 2014 donation because it had a foreign source. Authorities say Pigeon and the executive then funneled the money through a U.S. resident to try to circumvent the law.

A campaign spokeswoman for Cuomo says the campaign was defrauded by the illegal contribution. Pigeon pleaded guilty in state court last month to bribing a judge. He faces sentencing Jan. 25.

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