New York Governor Kathy Hochul is facing scrutiny for her recent trip to Israel, as she refuses to disclose who funded the journey.
Hochul and a small team, including state police, traveled to Israel from October 18 to October 20 on what she described as a solidarity mission. However, her office has stated that the trip is still awaiting clearance from a state ethics board.
Despite repeated inquiries, Hochul has avoided revealing the source of funding for the trip, stating only that a nonprofit organization had pledged to cover the costs. She did confirm that taxpayers paid for her state police detail. When pressed on the matter, Hochul directed further questions to her spokesperson, stating, "I just said I have to get over there. Follow all the ethics rules and get me there."
According to Hochul's spokesperson, Avi Small, a New York-based nonprofit working with the Jewish community has committed to covering the expenses of the trip. However, Small did not provide any additional information about the nonprofit when asked. The state Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, when approached for comment, cited state law as prohibiting them from discussing the matter.
Hochul has defended her trip as a gesture of support for the Israeli people during the ongoing conflict. With New York having the highest population of Jewish people outside of Israel, she believes it is important to show solidarity. California Governor Gavin Newsom also made a brief visit to Israel last week, meeting with individuals affected by the conflict before continuing on to China for a weeklong tour focused on climate change policies.
Critics, however, argue that Hochul should have sought approval from state ethics officials before embarking on the trip. Blair Horner, executive director for the New York Public Interest Research Group, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the nonprofit involved does not have any ties to businesses or other connections that could raise ethical concerns.
As the controversy surrounding Hochul's trip continues, questions remain about the transparency and accountability of the governor's actions.
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