NEW YORK — Andrew Cuomo’s mayoral campaign unlocked $4,000 in public matching funds off of donations made in the names of minors in violation of fundraising compliance laws, according to records reviewed by the Daily News. The donors whose contributions produced the questionable matching cash include a 5-year-old son of a prominent Cuomo supporter, the records show.
Under the city Campaign Finance Board’s matching funds program, mayoral candidates can get any donation from a local resident matched eightfold with taxpayer funds up to $250, providing a big incentive as every eligible contribution can be worth an extra $2,000 in public money. The program’s rules are strict and include a prohibition on candidates seeking matching funds on donations from anyone under 18.
Still, records show Cuomo’s campaign secured $2,000 in matching cash off a $250 donation made on March 6 by the 5-year-old son of Marc Schneier, a Long Island rabbi who has called Cuomo “a dear friend” and hosts him for speaking engagements at his synagogue in the Hamptons.
The donation from the boy, whose occupation is listed as “student,” was made via credit card, filings show. The contribution came after Marc Schneier chipped in $2,100 — the legal max — to Cuomo’s campaign March 1, the same day the ex-governor officially launched his mayoral bid.
Schneier issued a written statement saying that, after The News asked for comment, he contacted Cuomo’s campaign Wednesday morning to ask that the contribution be returned.
“As soon as this matter was brought to our attention, we recognized a mistake was made and we understand the donation is being returned,” the statement said.
The statement didn’t elaborate on how the child’s contribution was funded, but said Cuomo “is like family to us” and “our son wanted to help out like mommy and daddy.”
Records show Cuomo’s campaign also got $2,000 in matching funds based on a $1,000 contribution made via credit card on May 1 by Lorraine Mossery, a 17-year-old Brooklyn resident whose occupation is also listed as “student.” The teen’s contribution came on the same day her mother, Sherene Nakash Mossery, gave the legal $2,100 max to Cuomo.
Lorraine couldn’t be reached for comment, and her mother told The News to “lose my #” when asked over text about her daughter’s donation.
Both donations were solicited by Morris Missry, a registered fundraising agent of Cuomo’s campaign, records show. Missry, a managing partner at the Wachtel Missry law firm, didn’t respond to emailed questions.
Cuomo campaign spokesman Rich Azzopardi said Wednesday the Schneiner son’s donation was “refunded immediately” and that the related matching funds are as a result expected to be deducted. Azzopardi said the campaign’s still looking into the Mossery donation.
Ex-Campaign Finance Board member Art Chang faulted Cuomo’s campaign for not doing better donor vetting, citing heightened concerns in the wake of the Trump administration’s controversial dismissal of Adams’ corruption indictment, which alleged he solicited illegal straw contributions for his 2021 and 2025 campaigns from Turkish government operatives.
“A contribution from a 5-year-old defies common sense,” Chang added.
A CFB spokesman declined to comment on the suspicious donations, citing the board’s confidential enforcement process.
The donations are emerging as Cuomo faces an uphill battle running as an independent in November’s election, having lost June’s Democratic primary to Zohran Mamdani, who’s polling as the favorite to become the next mayor. Adams is also running on an independent line on November’s ballot, and Curtis Sliwa has the Republican nomination.