NY Dem boss defends support for Mets owners
New York Mets owner and chief executive Fred Wilpon, left, with Jeff Wilpon, Mets chief operating officer. (Oct. 29, 2010) Credit: AP
State and Nassau Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs proclaimed his personal support Tuesday for the New York Mets' owners as they fend off an explosive lawsuit related to their past dealings with Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff.
When contacted, Jacobs said he hadn't had cause to even think about a question now cropping up in political circles: Will candidates for public office continue to seek out or accept political contributions from partners Fred Wilpon and Saul B. Katz and their Sterling organization?
"I don't see any problem ethically or otherwise. I think they're both wonderful individuals," Jacobs replied. "I think it's unfortunate the way they've been treated in the press, frankly. And I don't subscribe to it."
His comment was quick and unqualified. Others who are engaged in political fundraising, requesting anonymity, saw it differently. "Now that we're in the midst of news stories about this problem, politicians will think twice about taking his checks," said a state Democratic consultant.
Long before Irving Picard, the court-appointed trustee in the Madoff case, charged that the Mets owners turned "a blind eye" to Madoff's scheme, the real estate and baseball venture and its principals contributed tens of thousands of dollars to dozens of regional and national candidates.
These recipients hailed from both major parties. They include: Jacobs' Nassau Democratic Committee ($20,000 in 2008); Rep. Steve Israel ($2,400 on Sept. 30); Rep. Peter King (more than $5,500 since 2007); Rudy Giuliani ($6,790 since 2006); Connecticut's Sen. Richard Blumenthal ($1,868 in 2010); Sen. Charles Schumer ($4,000 in 2003); and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn ($3,300 in 2007).
According to federal filings, Wilpon has contributed most consistently to the Office of the Commissioner or Major League Baseball Political Action Committee, which contributes separately to political campaigns. He and son Jeff Wilpon, for example, contributed $13,332 to the PAC in the 2009-10 cycle. Other baseball team owners, from coast to coast, kick in to the fund as well, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
"It's a cost-benefit analysis," said the consultant, who asked to remain anonymous because of his extensive dealings with donors. "Some will solicit from Sterling because they care more about getting money . . . Some will conclude otherwise, besides the fact that they'll have less money themselves."
"The truth is, Wilpon has never been on anyone's short list of contributors you have to have," added a Long Island fundraiser. "His checks will be missed but at this point they can't be accepted. Contributors come and go, but fundraising is forever. There will be others to fill the void."
Wilpon and Katz haven't publicly broached the matter of political donations since the suit was filed but have insisted that, like other investors, they didn't know of Madoff's Ponzi scheme. And Jacobs, who said he's a Nassau neighbor of Katz, says: "It's being made to look like they are somewhat culpable, that they knew what was going on or would have . . . There's a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking here. They were friends with a man who obviously deceived them.
"These are very fine, good people who are generous in their community," Jacobs declared.
