‘Guilty As Charged’: Schumer Admits To Spending Over $8,600 On Cheesecake

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is, uh, a portly man.

And on Sunday, he acknowledged why that might be. He admitted he spent more than $8,600 on cheesecake in less than 10 years, calling his sweet tooth a “guilty pleasure.”

“The New York senator’s PAC, Friends of Schumer, paid Junior’s Cheesecake in New York for ‘supporter acknowledgments’ in amounts ranging from $46 to $516.45, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings between 2009 and 2016,” CNN reported. Angelo Roefaro, Schumer’s press secretary, told CNN the senator “likes any flavor, but plain allows one to really savor that Junior’s recipe.”

Schumer’s office also said no taxpayer money was used to buy cheesecake.

In total, $8,638.85 was spent at the restaurant during this time, CNN said.

“Team Schumer said they had no idea how many cheesecakes they’ve ordered over the years,” the New York Post reported. “But The Post did the math: at the current price of $43.95 for the signature plain cheesecake, the House minority leader gobbled up 196 in five years.”

Schumer addressed the reports during a news conference in New York City on Sunday.

“I give them as gifts. I use them for bets, you know when someone wants to bet something, you know for a Brooklyn thing versus a Wisconsin thing,” the Democratic Minority Leader in the Senate said, holding a copy of the news report — and a plate arrayed with six pieces of cheesecake. “So I say to the New York Post and others, guilty as charged. I love Junior’s cheesecake. It’s the best cheesecake in the world.” Schumer said.

“It’s my guilty pleasure,” he said before handing out the cheesecake to reporters.

Angelo Roefaro, Schumer’s press secretary, on Sunday confirmed they have bought cheesecakes over the past decade and told CNN the senator “likes any flavor, but plain allows one to really savor that Junior’s recipe.” Schumer’s office told CNN that the money used to pay for the cheesecakes did not come from taxpayers.

The restaurant, which has proclaimed itself “The World’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake,” was founded in 1950.