Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) was one of eight State Senators named in the New York State Inspector General report on the Aqueduct Race Track Casino "Pay-to-Play" scandal. The money trail shows Stewart-Cousins was hand-picked for dirty cash by Senate Leaders Thompson, Smith, and Espada. In addition to betraying their duty as public servants, these Senators cost New York State much needed revenue by dealing with Aqueduct Entertainment Group and leaked confidential information to lobbyists.
According to the Inspector General's report Senate Democrat leaders and top staff took actions deemed to be in "militant indifference" to the public interest during the bidding process for the lucrative contracts to operate Video Lottery Terminals at the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens.
During the investigation, Senate Democrat leaders refused to answers questions so they would not incriminate themselves and often gave answers that were at odds with the evidence uncovered by the Inspector General.
Most significantly they cost the State needed revenue from a source other than taxpayers, then claimed a dire lack of revenue forced them to punish the taxpayers with over $14 billion in new taxes.
Sen. Stewart-Cousins has accepted approximately $15,359 in dirty money. She received over $10,000 in the two week period from January 9 to 19 when A.E.G. and Senate Democrat leadership were handing out cash to their selected candidates.
