FBI Investigates Democratic Party Boss for Allegedly Buying Votes

Federal investigators are examining allegations of political corruption involving longtime Suffolk County Democratic Party Chairman Rich Schaffer, who has been accused of offering money and threatening political allies to secure his reelection in New York.

According to a report from the New York Post, multiple Democratic Party members and local officials said they had been contacted by FBI agents about Schaffer’s conduct during a contentious leadership election last month.

Schaffer, who has led the Suffolk County Democratic Party for 26 years, retained his position despite accusations that he attempted to influence committee members through financial incentives, employment-related pressure, and political arrangements.

The controversy emerged during Schaffer’s reelection campaign against progressive challenger Kathryn Casey Quigley, exposing significant divisions within the local Democratic organization.

Several Democrats, including former Schaffer allies, alleged that party officials used intimidation tactics to discourage opposition and ensure the chairman remained in power.

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Some critics also accused Schaffer of making behind-the-scenes agreements with local Republicans that allegedly resulted in Democratic candidates staying off certain county ballots, allowing Republicans to run without opposition.

Text messages reviewed by the New York Post reportedly showed Schaffer discussing payments involving at least three committee members whose attendance and votes were considered important to his reelection.

In one alleged exchange, Schaffer discussed compensating a committee member’s father for missing his overnight security job so he could participate in the leadership vote.

“Can we pay him to miss work?” Schaffer allegedly wrote in a message obtained by the newspaper.

The allegations extend beyond financial inducements. A secretly recorded conversation reportedly captured a Schaffer ally warning committee members that their employment could be jeopardized if they failed to support the party leadership.

The recording was reportedly made during a meeting inside a Suffolk County Board of Elections office before the September leadership contest.

Islip Town Democratic Chairwoman Leigh-Ann Barde emerged as one of Schaffer’s critics after an alleged threat involving her husband, Roc Romain, who serves on the Democratic committee and works for the county Board of Elections.

Barde previously described Schaffer as her “political father figure,” underscoring the breakdown in relationships among longtime party associates.

The FBI has declined to confirm or discuss the reported investigation. However, several individuals connected to Suffolk County politics told the New York Post that federal agents had approached them.

Schaffer has rejected the allegations, describing them as “baseless.” He also maintained that law enforcement had not contacted him as of Wednesday, October 14.

His attorney, Mark Lesko, strongly defended the Democratic chairman’s reputation, calling him “the model of professionalism and ethics” and dismissing the accusations as politically motivated.

The New York State Attorney General’s office previously acknowledged reviewing whistleblower complaints involving Schaffer, adding another layer of official scrutiny to the internal party dispute.

The allegations have raised questions about political influence and accountability within Suffolk County’s Democratic organization. No criminal charges against Schaffer were reported in the October 15 account, and the accusations remain unproven.