Context:

Andrew M. Cuomo's campaign for New York City mayor faced a setback as the New York City Campaign Finance Board withheld $622,056 in public matching funds, citing probable illicit coordination with a super PAC, Fix the City, supporting him. This decision was based on suspicions of 'red-boxing,' where campaign instructions were publicly posted and seemingly mirrored by subsequent ads from the super PAC. Despite this, Cuomo’s campaign received $1.5 million in funds, and the super PAC has raised over $7 million, indicating robust financial backing. The controversy adds to Cuomo’s campaign challenges, including previous fund denials and a problematic housing plan release. Cuomo’s campaign insists on compliance with finance laws, while the super PAC claims independent operation, amidst criticism from opponents and ethics watchdogs warning about potential circumvention of fundraising rules.

Dive Deeper:

• Andrew Cuomo's campaign was denied $622,056 in public matching funds after the New York City Campaign Finance Board concluded there was likely unauthorized coordination with a supporting super PAC, Fix the City. This conclusion was drawn after the super PAC aired ads closely aligning with publicly posted campaign instructions from Cuomo.

• The tactic, known as 'red-boxing,' involves posting strategic instructions online that are likely to be followed by supporting super PACs, thus circumventing anti-coordination rules. The campaign finance board has explicitly warned against this practice, and Cuomo’s campaign has faced scrutiny for possibly engaging in it.

• Despite the funds withheld, Cuomo’s campaign still received $1.5 million and benefits from the super PAC’s robust financial backing, which has raised over $7 million, aiming to spend significantly in the race. This financial support diminishes the immediate impact of the withheld funds.

• Cuomo’s campaign has been marred by previous issues, including a prior denial of public funds due to incomplete donor information and the release of a poorly constructed housing plan that drew public criticism. These incidents have compounded the challenges faced by his mayoral campaign.

• In response to the latest controversy, Cuomo's campaign maintains that it adhered to all legal guidelines, and the super PAC asserts the ads were independently produced. However, critics, including other mayoral candidates, have highlighted this incident as indicative of Cuomo's history with ethical boundaries and campaign finance rules.