Report: Cuomo’s Campaign Pushed ‘Anti-Semitism’ Hit Piece on Nixon

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has insisted he had nothing to do with a political mailer accusing opponent Cynthia Nixon of anti-Semitism just days before the primary election, but an email sent to the New York Post reportedly paints a different picture. Just a day before the political mailer surfaced last Saturday, an email sent to the Post from an official “andrewcuomo.com” email address suggested the paper publish a story about Nixon’s opposition to Israeli settlements. “Nixon has supported insidious BDS campaign, signing onto letter boycotting Israel,” the email reportedly read, referring to the pro-Palestinian “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions” movement. “Obviously something you guys have reported on a lot and right before the Jewish high holidays!” the email read. A top Cuomo campaign official also reportedly texted a Post reporter to suggest running a story on Nixon’s pro-Palestinian stance. The mailer, funded by the New York State Democratic Committee, which Cuomo controls, accused Nixon of condoning anti-Semitism and urged voters not to “take a chance” with her in office while anti-Semitism is on the rise. In response to a backlash over what many saw as a smear campaign against Nixon—who is reportedly raising two of her kids Jewish—Cuomo on Sunday had said he was not aware of the mailer, which he called “inappropriate.”