Using eight different limited liability companies, the Durst Organization donated $150,000 to Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney’s campaign for New York attorney general.
Six LLCs owned by the developer each contributed $21,000 to the Democrat, and a seventh threw in $14,000, Crain’s reported. An eighth LLC donated another $10,000. One of the companies also gave Public Advocate Letitia James — the current frontrunner for the Democratic nomination who is aligned with Gov. Andrew Cuomo — $10,000.
Because New York recognizes each LLC as an individual person, the developer avoided limits on individual and corporate donations. Each LLC was permitted to donate up to $65,000. Such workarounds have long drawn the ire of ethics advocates, who’ve argued that the loophole disproportionately favors real estate companies since they often maintain LLCs for each property.
Whoever wins the Sept. 13 primary will face off with Republican Keith Wofford. [Crain’s] — Kathryn Brenzel