A state Assemblyman is accusing his controversial election foe — nicknamed the “Sperminator” for fathering more than a dozen babies as a donor — of a scheme to bar him from running in the upcoming Democratic primary.
Longtime Queens lawmaker Andrew Hevesi said Monday his voter registration was changed without his knowledge, with his party affiliation switching from Democrat to the Working Families Party in February.
Hevesi claimed the “criminal act” was a ruse to keep him from running in the June primary against perennial candidate Jonathan Rinaldi, who went up against him unsuccessfully two years ago as a Republican.
State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi is running for re-election. Associated Press “My opponent has a well-documented history of dishonesty in his various unsuccessful campaigns for public office. He is a lifelong Republican, who has consistently run as a Republican, and lost as a Republican,” Hevesi, who has represented parts of Queens since 2005, said in a message to supporters.
“As a result of that move, he is literally the only person in New York who had the motive, not to mention the means and opportunity, to commit this criminal act.”
The New York Times first reported on the suspicious switcheroo and Hevesi’s election fraud allegations against Rinaldi, who has claimed he is the biological father of at least 18 children from sperm donations.
Hevesi’s voter registration was changed in mid-February – but he only found out last week when a Working Families Party official called him to thank him for joining their ranks, said Hevesi campaign strategist Doug Forand.
Paperwork that was submitted to the city Board of Elections by mail had a errors and omissions – but was still accepted by election workers, according to Hevesi’s campaign.
Hevesi was dumfounded, and quickly contacted election officials and the Queens District Attorney’s Office to file a criminal complaint.
He also worked with local Democratic Party officials to ensure he remained on the primary ballot, said Forand.
Hevesi noted Rinaldi’s checkered past when accusing him of being behind the change.
“Mr. Rinaldi has built his political reputation on lies, deception, and unquestionably unethical behavior,” he said.
The prolific sperm donor has unsuccessfully run for a series of elected offices and faced heat last year when his social media accounts posted fake endorsements and bogus news clips in a City Council race. He claimed his Facebook account had been hacked.
Rinaldi strongly denied Hevesi’s accusations in a statement to The Post.
Jonathan Rinaldi is now a Democrat and running against the incumbent. Gregory P. Mango “I had absolutely no involvement in any change to Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi’s voter registration, and neither did anyone acting on my behalf,” said Rinaldi.
“What this situation actually highlights is a serious vulnerability in our election system. If a voter registration can be changed by mail, without identification, and even with apparent errors, that should concern every New Yorker.”
The form submitted to the BOE and reviewed by The Post did not include Hevesi’s phone number or an email address. It also wrongly claimed that Hevesi did not have a driver’s license or social security number.
A BOE spokesperson noted under state law, “individuals may register or update their voter registration without providing identification.”
“Any attempt to exploit this provision by submitting false or fraudulent information is a crime,” said spokesperson Vincent Ignizio said in a statement.
“We take these matters extremely seriously and will refer any findings of illegal conduct to the District Attorney’s office immediately.”
Forand said Hevesi could potentially examine if election laws need to be addressed going forward – but for now was more focused on ensuring he remains on the ballot.
