For Immediate Release: October 22, 2010

PADAVAN CALLS ON AVELLA TO RETURN DIRTY DSCC CASH

Smith, Sampson and DSCC Have Spent or Donated $230,000 in Tainted Funds to Tony
Avella

With the release of the New York State Inspector General (NYS IG) report into the
Aqueduct Entertainment Group investigation and its findings of widespread corruption
and rampant dysfunction within the ranks of the Senate Democratic leadership, Senator
Frank Padavan (Queens) today called on former New York City Councilman Tony Avella
to return over $230,000 in tainted and dirty political contributions. The campaign funds
came from embattled Senate President Malcolm Smith, Senate Democratic Conference
Leader John Sampson and the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee (DSCC) which is
controlled by both men.

The report released by the NYS IG outlines in striking detail the pervasive
corruption and favoritism by Senators Smith, Sampson and Adams surrounding the
awarding of the casino contract to the Aqueduct Entertainment Group. According to the
report Senators Smith, Sampson and Adams peddled and traded influence for campaign
funds for the DSCC.

“The right thing, in fact the only thing for Tony Avella to do right now is to return
the dirty political money he has received from Malcolm Smith, John Sampson and the
political arm they control, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee and to stop
taking funds from here on in,” Padavan said. “Nearly the entirety of Tony Avella’s
campaign has been funded with these dirty funds. To date over $230,000 in dirty
political money has been spent on his behalf or donated directly to Tony Avella. ”

“From the very onset of his campaign, Tony Avella has been silent on any of the
reported corrupt actions of the Senate Democratic Leadership. Now he is once again
failing to denounce the actions of his political bosses and Albany Insider friends. Failure
to return these funds is to accept their corrupt actions. It’s clear that just as long as
Tony’s campaign coffers are flush with tainted campaign cash he will turn a blind eye to
the corruption taking place by those who want him to walk lock-step with them. With
friends like these, one has to question the judgment and character of Tony Avella. ”

Below is an outline and timeline of the dirty campaign funds, Tony Avella has taken
or has been spent by the DSCC on his behalf as of the last reporting with the New York
State Board of Elections:

• July 11. 2010- $5,600 from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
• September 2, 2010- $16,737 from the Democratic Senate Campaign
Committee
• September 23, 2010- $59,446 from the Democratic Senate Campaign
Committee
• September 27, 2010- $1,000 from the Senate President Malcolm Smith
• September 30, 2010- $70,647 from the Democratic Senate Campaign
Committee
• October 8, 2010- $1,000 from Senate President Malcolm Smith
• October 15, 2010- $80,140 from the Democratic Senate Campaign
Committee

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