Nassau County Democrats allege misuse of taxpayer dollars for Trump rally

Democratic leaders in the Nassau County legislature have filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that the Sept. 18 campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Nassau County amounted to an illegal, unreported campaign contribution from Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, using taxpayer money.

Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, the minority caucus’s leader, was joined by Legislator Debra Mulé and Legislator Seth Koslow, both Democrats, at a news conference on Sept. 19. The complaint sent says that taxpayer-funded resources, totaling over $1 million, were put towards supporting the partisan political event.

“It has come to our attention, and it has been verified, that over a million dollars in overtime was spent yesterday,” DeRiggi-Whitton said. “This is hard earned taxpayer money from Nassau County families. This includes items for things like hundreds of police that attended the rally, as well as other municipal employees, ranging from the Department of Public Works to the Parks Department.”

DeRiggi-Whitton said the democratic caucus fully supported the idea of keeping the former president safe. “That is absolutely not in question,” she said. “(But) this is taking money away from other services we really could use.”

At a security briefing ahead of Wednesday’s rally, Blakeman told reporters that the county budgets for large events — such as the rally — to mitigate the potential financial stress it could place on county resources, like police.

“It’s part of our job,” he said. “We don’t discourage big events in Nassau County — we want to encourage them.”

“We all know that Bruce Blakeman idolizes Donald Trump,” Koslow said. “We all know that he wants to get his attention, but he shouldn’t do that with taxpayer funds.

“Simply because you have a budget, doesn’t mean you have to spend the money,” he added.

The Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, where the rally was held, was leased for the day by the Trump campaign. Rallygoers began gathering at 8 a.m. on Wednesday for what would turn into a 12-hour-long event, by the time the former president finished speaking. DeRiggi-Whitton also said the campaign should also be reimbursing the county for the cost of its resources, and told reporters that the Nassau County GOP used the event as a fundraising and voter registration event.

According to a story published in the New York Times, which DeRiggi-Whitton referenced, Joseph Cairo, the GOP chairman in Nassau County, organized a high-dollar fundraiser “on the sidelines” of the rally.

“It’s clearly a partisan effort,” she said. “They did take the opportunity to raise probably a good amount of funds. However, whatever they raise, there should be a portion of that coming back to the county.”

“It’s clear that this was not just a rally,” Koslow said. “This was a political exercise to try and get more money. If they’re bringing all of this money in, why shouldn’t they reimburse the county and the taxpayers, who are not all Republicans — obviously. Why should undecided voters, independent voters, Democratic voters or Republican voters, foot the bill for this rally. That is our concern.”

When asked about the allegations, Blakeman, in a written statement sent to the Herald, said “Nassau County provides security and safety to all public figures and public events regardless of party affiliation. I guess Democrat leaders really do want Trump killed, but it ain’t happening in Nassau County.”

DeRiggi-Whitton said Blakeman’s remarks were “very concerning.”

“I’ve been an elected official for 18 years,” she said. “We didn’t agree to this expense, and that’s why we’re here today, to state that we think we should be reimbursed. But to get so personal — with such horrible suggestions or thoughts — I’m shocked by it and I’m offended by it.”