ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) \u2014\u00a0Gov. Andrew Cuomo\u2019s political star\u00a0was dimmed by allegations he sexually harassed women and misled the public about COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But will that hurt him with campaign donors?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the Democrat\u2019s most reliable political contributors \u2014 including unions, wealthy executives and Democratic Party officials \u2014 say they still plan to give money to his expected campaign for a fourth term in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The governor is planning a $10,000 per-person fundraiser for June 29 in New York City. It will be one of his first big, in-person events to raise money for his campaign since the coronavirus pandemic began. He\u2019s also hosting a $25 per-person virtual fundraiser in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The full picture of whether\u00a0the allegations hurt Cuomo\u00a0with contributors might become clearer on July 15, when his campaign has to disclose donations made since January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least some donors say they are sticking with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes I am,\u201d said Larry Rockefeller, the Republican nephew of former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and great-grandson of Standard Oil founder John D. Rockefeller. He has donated nearly $166,000 to Cuomo since 2009. Rockefeller cited Cuomo\u2019s leadership during the pandemic, on the environment and on public works like the redevelopment of Penn Station, and LaGuardia Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have due process in this country,\u201d Rockefeller said, referring to allegations made against Cuomo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
State and federal investigators are probing allegations\u00a0that Cuomo sexually harassed employees and other women,\u00a0groped a current female aide, unlawfully used state resources for a $5.1 million book deal and\u00a0minimized the state\u2019s toll of COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents\u00a0to suggest that New York\u2019s crisis wasn\u2019t as bad as other states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing. He\u2019s questioned the motives of his accusers and some of his investigators, including Attorney General Letitia James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A request for comment was left with his campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polling suggests Cuomo lost some support from Democrats this year but he resisted numerous calls for his resignation last March from a majority of state and federal Democratic lawmakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many Democratic politicians and the leaders of New York institutions and companies have continued to appear with him at events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ed Christian, business manager of Local 1414B, a Flushing chapter of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said Cuomo has been a \u201ctremendous advocate\u201d who the union would continue to support financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, absolutely,\u201d Christian said, citing, like Rockefeller, the rebuilding of Penn Station and LaGuardia Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s construction projects that will allow for us to feed our families,\u201d he said. Chapters of the union, whose members operate heavy equipment at construction sites, have donated over $145,000 to Cuomo\u2019s campaigns in past years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scott Rechler, a donor who was appointed by Cuomo to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board and as vice chair of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, plans to give again, too, according to his spokesperson David Garten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t know if Rechler would withdraw support if the investigations of Cuomo substantiate wrongdoing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a bit of a hypothetical,\u201d Garten said. \u201cWe have no idea what the report says. We\u2019ll see what it says and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cuomo had a campaign war chest of $16.8 million going into 2021, built over the years from donors like real estate titan Dan Tishman, hedge fund manager James Simons, Walmart heir Jim Walton, fertilizer tycoon-turned-investor Alexander Rovt and Estee Lauder magnates William and Leonard Lauder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n