Leo Hindery has given to many important Democratic candidates over the last decade, contributing $370,100 in direct donations to Andrew Cuomo, former Gov. David Paterson Sens. Jeff Klein and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, along with the state Democratic Party.

He’s also the managing partner of InterMedia LP, and is now working to close a major merger with the Sportsman Channel and the Outdoor Channel. While the Outdoor Channel focuses on lifetstyle and sports, the Sportsman Channel is seen as more overtly political, often feautring the National Rifle Association’s executive.

The merger would likely result in one of the biggest firearm and hunting media networks in the country, all as the debate is getting louder over gun control here in New York and across the country.

To be sure, Hindery’s political involvement isn’t limited to New York, and he was also a top fundraiser for John Edwards 2008 presidential campaign.

And now his political involvement and contributions to Democrats, many of whom champion gun control measures, is causing problems for shareholders.

BuzzFeed reported late last week that investors in the Outdoor Channel are calling attention to the merger and trying to scuttle the deal.

“This is an inherent conflict between his political and business relationships,” said Andrew Franklin, a shareholder in the Outdoor Channel, told BuzzFeed.

He added, “There’s a really high level of inconsistency with Hindery’s political views. How can you take revenue from the NRA and gun sponsors and contribute aggressively to Cuomo and Edwards, who are crusading against the organizations that pay him?”

Hindery’s political contributions to New York Democrats are extensive.

He gave $33,900 to Cuomo in 2006, right before his successful campaign for attorney general and later $16,200. His donations covered many Senate Democrats, too, ranging from Klein, now the Senate co-president to Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Hindery also gave $25,000 to then-Gov. David Paterson’s re-election campaign in 2008.

Hindery also gave a combined $50,000 to the state Democratic Party over a two-year period, along with $10,000 to the party’s less regulated housekeeping account.

New York passed a sweeping gun control law, backed largely by Democrats and some Republicans, in January that updates the state’s assault weapons ban and limits the number of bullets in a high-capacity magazine to seven.

Some Republicans in the Senate are now calling for a broad repeal of the measure’s gun provisions, but it is unlikely to pass in the Democratic-led Assembly or be signed by Cuomo.

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