A Republican demand that New York Democratic Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's gubernatorial campaign return a contribution from a former Aon brokerage executive is hypocritical, a spokesman for the campaign contends.
The demand was made by New York State Republican Chairman Stephen Minarik. It came after The New York Post, a conservative tabloid, reported that Richard Ferrucci of Garden City, N.Y., a former senior vice president at Aon, donated $25,000 three days before the brokerage reached a $190 million settlement with his office. Mr. Spitzer had investigated Aon for allegedly taking kickbacks in the form of contingency fees to rig bids on commercial insurance.
"Aon had no involvement in or even knowledge of this [Ferrucci] contribution, and the suggestion that it affected Mr. Spitzer's judgment is unwarranted and offensive," said the brokerage, in a statement.
Aon said it disagreed with any suggestion that any contribution led to favorable treatment because the $190 million was hardly "a slap on the wrist."
Ryan Toohey, a spokesman for the attorney general's "Spitzer 2006″ Democratic primary campaign for governor, said that contributions to Mr. Spitzer did not influence the workings of his office.
He noted that the state insurance department, which is part of the administration of Republican Gov. George Pataki, had signed off on the settlement, "so, there's a little bit of hypocrisy there."
Mr. Toohey said he did not know what, if any political party Mr. Ferrucci is registered with, adding that "his contribution in no way influenced the settlement."
The settlement, agreed to in March, calls for the company to pay $190 million in restitution to injured customers without admitting guilt. Mr. Spitzer settled similar charges with Marsh & McLennan Companies, which contains the much larger Marsh brokerage, for $850 million and criminal pleas were accepted from three mid-level Marsh executives.
Mr. Minarik demanded last week that Mr. Spitzer "explain to all New Yorkers what he knew, and when he knew it…We deserve full and complete answers. Eliot Spitzer should strive for nothing less."
Mr. Ferrucci could not be reached for comment.
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