Chris Cuomo confesses ‘pay to play’ as DNC luxury suites cost $5 million: ‘Same people who say they’re going to fix them’

Chris Cuomo criticized the Democratic Party for vowing to go after corporations for price gouging — even as it charges big donors between $500,000 and $5 million for a luxury suite at its convention in Chicago.

Cuomo — who was fired from CNN in 2021 after helping his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, navigate sexual harassment allegations — attacked Democrats during a nearly three-minute monologue in his current home of broadcast, NewsNation. .

“A big theme here at the DNC is that they’re going to go after corporate kickbacks and they’re going to go after corporations, whether it’s on taxes, on the bounty, on loopholes,” Cuomo said from the convention floor at the United Center during NewsNation. coverage on Wednesday night.

Cuomo then pointed to the suites in the arena that hosted the convention as the camera panned overhead.

“Look at the ring of suites, okay?” Cuomo said. “This is not unique to the Democrats. There is a money game.”

The former CNN star said “we are overwhelmed by the reality of money in our politics.”

“Those suites start at $500. Do you think there is a group of teachers up there?” Cuomo said. “Do you think it’s like the Cub Scouts of Columbia County, SC, that’s in those boxes?”

Cuomo then revealed that NewsNation did not reserve a seat in one of the suites — unlike other outlets that sent reporters to Chicago to cover the convention.

“Why do you think I’m on the floor?” Cuomo said, adding, “NewsNation is not a broken company. [Parent company] Nexstar is a massive organization.”

“We are corporate media [but] we don’t have one of those boxes because this is the game,” Cuomo said. “You pay to play.”

Cuomo then noted that the suites “were filled with the same people they say they’re going to fix.”

“They’re literally looking at the trustees … and being told, ‘We’re going to make them pay their fair share,'” Cuomo said.

He added that convention-goers who have seats in luxury suites pay between half a million and $5 million.

Cuomo also said they “probably get hotel suites that are donated for the party.”

“The same is true with the Republican side,” Cuomo said before sarcastically asking, “And they’re going to take them down?”

Cuomo noted that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, has raised hundreds of millions of dollars since President Biden left the race.

The NewsNation anchor referred to a Politico article that linked to a page published by the Chicago 2024 Host Committee detailing “sponsorship levels” for those seeking to attend the convention.

Donors who received $100,000 were given two credentials to the “super suite of honored guests,” as well as an advance podium ticket and a “premium” hotel room.

A $500,000 contribution would have earned you 20 suite credentials, advance podium tickets and five premium hotel rooms.

A $1 million payout would have netted 20 suite credentials, advance podium tickets and 10 premium hotel rooms.

For $1.5 million, donors would have received the same number of credentials and 20 premium hotel rooms.

A contribution of $2.5 million would have gotten you 28 premium hotel rooms, while a gift of $5 million would be good for 40 premium hotel rooms.

The Post has requested comment from the organizers of the Democratic Party congress.