Left-wing Gov. Cuomo flips press event upside down, questions reporter about his company's 'fraud

Left-wing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo flipped a press event upside down Tuesday by questioning a reporter about his parent company's "fraud," the Huffington Post reported.

Zack Fink, a reporter with regional cable channel New York 1, asked Cuomo if he's considered returning donations from employees of Crystal Run Healthcare, a New York clinic chain, or launching an internal investigation into whether donations are valid, the Post said.

Amid a federal probe into $400,000 in donations to Cuomo, the Post said investigators are trying to determine if Crystal Run reimbursed employees for Cuomo donations through bonuses — i.e. straw donations.

How did Cuomo respond?

Initially Cuomo noted his campaign would return contributions or initiate an internal inquiry only if federal officials found wrongdoing, the outlet reported.

And then the Democratic governor turned the media event on its head — by playing the reporter role and asking Fink about an apparent dispute between the state government and Spectrum News, which is New York 1's parent company, the Post said.

“Speaking of fraud, Charter Spectrum has been executing fraud on the people of this state,” Cuomo said, according to an event transcript, before adding an argument that the cable company has failed to “increase cable access” in poor and rural communities and is running "fraudulent" ads about company successes.

“So you are defrauding the people of this state," Cuomo said, addressing Fink. "That’s a fraud."

And after Fink came back with a different question, it was apparent that the governor wasn't finished with his inquiry: “Are you speaking on behalf of Charter Spectrum or yourself?” Cuomo asked Fink.

“No, I’m just asking a question,” Fink replied.

How did Cuomo's progressive gubernatorial opponent Cynthia Nixon react?

Actress Cynthia Nixon — Cuomo's progressive gubernatorial challenger — said his exchange with the reporter resembled President Donald Trump's spats with the media.

“Cuomo can’t hold himself up as New York’s answer to Donald Trump and simultaneously threaten members of the press for doing their job,” Nixon said in a statement, the Post reported. “The governor owes NY1's Zack Fink an apology. He was doing exactly what the free press is supposed to do.”

A spokesperson for the governor's campaign didn't immediately respond to the Post's request for comment on Cuomo's exchange with Fink.