Scamdemic: NY Gov Hochul awards megadonor with $637 million in no-bid COVID contracts

Worse than Cuomo?

For the average New Yorker, the economy is in shambles. However, if you happen to be connected to the New York political elite, business is booming.

Governor Kathy Hochul’s health department has awarded a stunning $637 million in no-bid contracts to a company led by one of her major donors, for the supply of junk COVID products like tests, masks, and other “medical” devices.

Hochul megadonor Charlie Tebele, who has contributed some $300,000 to her campaign, has scored major business from COVID Mania, securing some hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds. Before securing the money from offices controlled by his sponsored politicians, Tebele transformed his electronic device outfit (a company called Digital Gadgets) into a COVID-19 business. 

The Albany Times Union reports that Tebel received “$637 million in taxpayer funds to provide the state Department of Health — an agency controlled by Hochul — with at-home COVID-19 test kits,” adding, “the huge expenditure was made without the agency conducting competitive bidding.”

Chris Bragg @ChrisBragg1

New: A family donated $300K to Gov. Hochul. New York has paid the family business $637 million since the end of December.

timesunion.comA family donated $300K to Hochul. New York has paid the family business $637M.One New York City family, led by entrepreneur Charlie Tebele, has donated nearly $300,000...

According to OpenBookNY, the democrat megadonor has received all of the $637 million over the course of the last 7 months, over 29 separate payments.

The timing and nature of the deal gives off the stench of massive corruption in Hochul’s office.

One month prior to the no-bid contract being awarded, Hochul signed an executive order suspending “competitive bidding for certain contracts as well as the normal contract review and approval process conducted by [the New York Department of Health], which oversees state government spending,” the Times Union adds.

Tebele’s business is far from “essential,” as the company does not even manufacture the “COVID PPE” products that it supplies, which are likely made in China. It only acts as a “wholesaler,” or really, a middleman, for the goods. Before pivoting into COVID-19 as a business, his company sold electronic gadgets like hoverboards.

Under Kathy Hochul, New York has become fully committed to embracing COVID Mania. In ordering countless rounds of lockdowns and other mandates, Hochul has routinely outed herself as a power drunk authoritarian menace. Now we know she’s both corrupt and tyrannical.

New York Post @nypost

Gov. Hochul orders new statewide mask or vax mandate as COVID surges trib.al/luIY4QU

This isn’t the first time that Tebele has secure a favorable business outcome with democrat politicians.

In 2020, under the stewardship of New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Digital Gadgets scored well over $150 million in no bid contracts from NYC to provide masks and ventilators. 

Daniel Medina @dmedin11

@THECITYNY is reporting that City Hall just bought $119 million worth in N95 masks and ventilators from Digital Gadgets, a company run by major de Blasio donor, Charlie Tebele.

Gabriel L. Sandoval @gluissandoval

NEW: City Hall's around-the-clock quest for ventilators and emergency supplies to combat coronavirus led officials to sign contracts totaling nearly $119M with a firm run by a @NYCMayor donor https://t.co/Fyey9yA2Ih

Alyssa Katz @alykatzz

A seat on the @NYCEDC board comes with power over city development funds and real estate. @NYCMayor gave one to a major donor to his 2020 presidential bid along with big no-bid deals to sell the city ventilators and masks at peak crisis. By @gluissandoval

thecity.nycDe Blasio Donor Who Scored Big COVID Contracts Also Got Seat on Influential City BoardCharlie Tebele of the New Jersey firm Digital Gadgets joined Economic Development Corp. shortly before signing up to sell masks and ventilators to NYC.

Tebele has donated tens of thousands to DeBlasio and his SuperPAC, The City News reported.

According to FEC records, Tebele gives exclusively to democrats. He has donated thousands to Hillary Clinton, Chuck Schumer, and several democrat members of congress.

Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Sure, Mr. Tebele is engaging in rather unethical business practices by doing business in the COVID snake oil market. However, he’s merely leveraging New York’s pay-to-play system, which exists because it’s sanctioned by corrupt politicians.