Michael Arcuri
Posted at 12:31pm on Jun. 28, 2008 NY-24: Arcuri Borrows Bill Clinton's Defense in Fundraiser Flap
'We hired a girl, a woman, who did some work for us,' says Democrat
By Bluey
A 31-year-old fundraiser who worked for the re-election campaign of freshman Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) is likely to be called as a witness in the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal, the woman's lawyer told an Upstate New York television station.
Meanwhile, Arcuri for the first time publicly addressed his campaign's connection to the Spitzer confidante, telling WKTV, "It's one of those things where there's absolutely nothing whatsoever. In fact, we welcome the scrutiny. We hired a girl, a woman, who did some work for us, who also did some work for Eliot Spitzer, and that's where the story begins and ends."
That "girl" is Kristian Stiles, who began working for Spitzer in her mid-20s. Her connection to Arcuri lasted from July 2007 until March 18, two days after the New York Times reported she was under federal investigation for her unusual ties with Spitzer.
Arcuri paid Stiles more than $44,000 to serve as a fundraising consultant in New York City. The large sum of money for just nine months of work has raised questions, especially because she did similar work for Spitzer. A source with knowledge of New York City fundraisers told me this week it seemed rather odd that Stiles would be paid such a large sum for such work.
Aside from WKTV's Joleen Farris and a Utica, N.Y., blog JusticeDenied13501, Arcuri appears to be getting a pass from local media. The daily paper, Utica Observer-Dispatch, has a history of going easy on him, dating back to the 2006 campaign.
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Posted at 5:33pm on Jun. 26, 2008 NY-24: Arcuri Tied to Spitzer Prostitution Scandal
Former Fundraiser Under Federal Investigation
By Bluey
Freshman Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) paid $44,000 to a political consultant who is under federal investigation as part of the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal. The story first broke on a blog in Arcuri's hometown of Utica, N.Y., and is now leading the news in the Upstate New York city.
The woman, 31-year-old Kristian Stiles, began working for Spitzer in her mid-20s doing fundraising work for the disgraced former New York governor. Her connection to Arcuri dates to July 2007, when Arcuri's campaign began paying her $4,000 a month for fundraising work, according to campaign finance records. The timing is critical because it overlaps the period federal authorities were investigating Spitzer for his connection to a prostitution ring. Spitzer resigned on March 12.
Stiles relationship with Arcuri lasted until March 18, 2008, just two days after the New York Times reported that the federal authorities "had requested detailed documentation for thousands of dollars" in transactions between Stiles and Spitzer.
The Arcuri campaign is downplaying the connection, claiming in statement to WKTV: "In March, Arcuri did not have any opposition and it was determined by the campaign that a fundraising consultant in New York City was unnecessary."
A former campaign staffer with knowledge of New York City fundraisers told me they generally work on commission by event, not as consultants. "If you want a fundraiser, you go to the experts, not some 20-something woman," my source said. "Let's see her invoices. Let's see the events she arranged. Let's see the PAC contributions she brought in."
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