To accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair, or not to accuse Andrew Cuomo of an affair — that is the question that’s been plaguing Carl Paladino this week.
And on Megyn Kelly’s Fox News show today, Paladino again suggested that he’s got proof: “We will at the appropriate time say whatever we have in our box. At the appropriate time.”
Here’s what happened:
Earlier this week, Politico’s Maggie Haberman reported that Paladino was angry, saying that photographers had been following his 10-year-old daughter, whom he had with a woman who was not his wife. He was also incensed that people kept asking him about the affair. “Has anybody asked Andrew Cuomo about his paramours?” he asked.
The next evening, Paladino and New York Post editor Fred Dicker nearly came to blows when Dicker began questioning Paladino about the allegations against Cuomo: “Do you have any evidence for the charge you made?” Dicker asked.
“At the appropriate time you’ll get it,” Paladino said.
Then yesterday, Paladino told The Buffalo News that his comments were taken out of context: “I’m sick and tired of people asking me about if I’ve had affairs,” Paladino said. “I was talking to [a reporter] and said ‘Why don’t you ask Andrew Cuomo if he has had extramarital affairs. It’s not that I was accusing him.”
The Buffalo News continues:
In addition, Paladino misspoke Wednesday night when telling a New York Post reporter that he would provide proof of a Cuomo affair “at the appropriate time,” Paladino campaign manager Michael Caputo said today.
Paladino misunderstood the question he was being asked by New York Post reporter Fred U. Dicker, and the context of the question, Caputo said.
But the saga doesn’t end there.
Today, Paladino again implied that he has evidence of a Cuomo affair, saying his campaign will release it “at the appropriate time.”
Kelly asked: “So you’re not backing off that allegation?”
“What I believe and what is factual out there, we will at the appropriate time put out, yes,” Paladino replied.
Kelly also asked him about the incident with Dicker, and Paladino defended his actions, saying that he believes the Post is responsible for sending photographers after his daughter. “The children are open game? Is that what we’ve evolved to?” he asked.
“I’m not intimidatable, Megyn. That’s just me. I don’t back off. This man attacked me,” Paladino said.
Watch:
The TPM Poll Average shows Cuomo leading 52.8%-38.4%.
