Hoechul calls FBI probe 'hit job' as Democrat boss accused of trying to buy votes October 25, 2026 - New York Post "Governor Kathy Hoechul is dropping a federal investigation into a Long Island Democratic Party boss accused of trying to buy votes as a 'political underdog'." The governor, who spoke to reporters in midtown Manhattan on Friday, confronted Suffolk County Democratic Party Chairman Rich Schafer after the Post reported he was being investigated by the FBI for alleged strong-arm tactics to secure his re-election. "Anything that comes out of the Trump administration days before an election is calculated to serve political harm," the governor said - despite the fact that the accusations against the boss come from other Democrats. "I don't believe you can assume what the feds are saying is true — you have to know the context of who's doing it, [and] what their track record is for using their investigative powers to harass political opponents," she added. Although the governor admitted she did not know the details of the allegations against Shafer or what allegedly happened, she said she believed there was a "cloud" over the investigation. But when asked if Shapers' alleged behavior was appropriate for an elected official, Hochul said she would "wait for the investigation" to review the findings and make a decision. ".