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Phil Oliva Demands Tapes Of Incident From Fired Mahoney Video Tracker

SOMERS, N.Y. -- Phil Oliva, a Republican candidate for the 18th Congressional District criticized Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-Cold Spring) for refusing to turn over the video footage obtained by a fired video “tracker” from the Maloney campaign. 

Somers resident Phil Oliva with Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Somers resident Phil Oliva with Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Photo Credit: Twitter

The tracker, Yougourthen Ayouni, admitted to contacting Oliva’s wife on Facebook and visiting the Oliva residence, once startling the candidate’s wife as he peered through the kitchen window. 

Oliva, a Somers resident, is running in a June 28 primary against Kenneth Del Vecchio for the Republican spot against DemocratMaloney for the 18th Congressional District seat in November the general election. Oliva currently serves as a senior political adviser to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino.

Maloney was asked by a reporter whether he was going to hand over the tapes earlier this week and said the State Democratic Party “should do whatever makes sense. ... Do whatever is right.”

Political parties regularly hire video trackers to record statements made by candidates at debates and public events in search of controversial remarks that can be used in a campaign. Ayouni was recruited and trained by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, although he was paid through a separate federal account kept by the state Democratic Committee.

“My wife was stalked online and at our home by someone working on behalf of Sean Patrick Maloney," Oliva said in a statement released Tuesday morning. "This is not in dispute. We have very real concerns starting with the videotapes and what’s on them relating to my wife and my kids."

Oliva also asked for all the memos, reports and other documentation the tracker collected and distributed.

Oliva said that if the tapes were not turned over by the Maloney campaign voluntarily, he and his wife would pursue legal means to secure the footage.

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