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FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS DIRECTED BY NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: STATEMENT OF FACTS

- $637M was paid by New York State for approx. 52M rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits in late 2021 through early 2022.
- The purchases were financed largely through federal pandemic relief…

— Reza Chowdhury (@RezaC1) January 7, 2026

FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS DIRECTED BY NEW YORK GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL: STATEMENT OF FACTS

- $637M was paid by New York State for approx. 52M rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits in late 2021 through early 2022.
- The purchases were financed largely through federal pandemic relief funds, including funds made available to states for COVID-19 testing and response.
- New York did not purchase the tests directly from the manufacturer.
- Instead, the state routed the purchase through Digital Gadgets LLC, a private reseller acting as a middleman.
- Other states and the federal government purchased the same or similar tests directly from manufacturers at substantially lower per-unit prices.
- The owners and immediate family of Digital Gadgets were major campaign donors to Hochul, contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars during the same election cycle.
- In addition to campaign donations, the Digital Gadgets owners had a direct employment connection to Hochul through one of their children.
- Hochul relied on extended COVID emergency powers to execute the procurement.
- Competitive bidding was waived.
- Standard State Comptroller pre-audit review was bypassed.
- These safeguards exist specifically to prevent favoritism, donor influence, and price gouging in the use of public including federal funds.
- Because federal funds were used, the transaction is subject to federal audit and oversight, including potential review by federal inspectors general and the Government Accountability Office.

American taxpayers funded this transaction.

You decide whether this reflects responsible stewardship of federal COVID relief funds.