Was Baazov behind illegal political donation?

It seems that whilst often substantial political donations by US individuals and companies to political election campaigns are accepted practice in the United States, the red flags go up when foreigners try to muscle in on the action.

Media reports from New York indicate that just such an allegation has been made against Montreal-based former Amaya CEO David Baazov, who is already contesting insider trader allegations in his own country.

The allegations came to light through an unsealed FBI criminal complaint being prosecuted in Buffalo by Acting US Attorney J.P. Kennedy against Democratic Party facilitator Steve Pigeon and his Papi Holdings firm, which provided consulting and lobbying services to Amaya for five years ending 2015.

Although the court documents do not identify the parties involved other than Pigeon, who is fighting charges of conspiracy and facilitating an illegal campaign donation in 2014, local media reports have quoted his lawyer as revealing that the charges are in connection with a $25,000 donation made to the election campaign of New York governor Andrew Cuomo at an event in New York in late February 2014 by Florida attorney Marlon Goldstein, then Amaya’s general counsel.

Apparently Pigeon omitted to register his involvement with Amaya, which at the time was officially represented in New York state by another lobbying firm.

Much of the FBI case (investigations are continuing) appears to be based on emails seized from Pigeon’s waterfront condo during a 2015 raid.

After being released until May 15 on bail of $10,000, Pigeon told reporters outside the court that he was the victim of a political witch hunt, and that this was the third time charges have been levelled against him by federal authorities engaging in “prosecutorial misconduct” this year.

“These latest ridiculous charges – three in a row now – show what a political witch hunt this is,” he said. “I was simply a co-host of a Cuomo party and invited a Canadian citizen to an event like what he attends all over the United States. I simply invited a person and I’m the only one charged.”

Observers have speculated that Baazov’s interest in the 2014 gubernatorial election in New York may have been associated with efforts in the state legislature to legalise online poker (see previous reports).

Access the full report here: http://buffalonews.com/2017/05/08/pigeon-appear-federal-court/