New York
Related: About this forumLarry Schwartz, Top Cuomo Aide, to Meet With Prosecutors
By CHRISTOPHER M. MATTHEWS And ERICA ORDEN CONNECT
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's highest-ranking aide has agreed to meet with federal prosecutors this month as their investigation into the disbanding of an anticorruption commission intensifies, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Larry Schwartz, who holds the title of secretary to the governor, agreed in recent weeks to meet with prosecutors from the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, the person said, a development that suggests investigators are interested in learning more about the administration's actions before and after the commission was shut down in March.
Mr. Schwartz was Mr. Cuomo's conduit to the Moreland Commission, and it is his alleged actions that have served as the basis for accusations that the administration improperly interfered with the commission's investigations, directing them away from any entities with ties to the governor. Mr. Schwartz didn't respond to email or phone messages on Sunday evening.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/larry-schwartz-top-cuomo-aide-to-meet-with-prosecutors-1407108541?utm_content=buffer5afaa&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Laura Nahmias
ALBANY—Governor Andrew Cuomo's office is paying a prominent white-collar defense attorney with funds from his $35 million campaign war chest.
That decision puts the governor at odds, on paper at least, with members of his own party in the Legislature, where more than a dozen Senate Democrats are co-sponsors of a bill that would make it illegal for politicians to use their campaign money to pay for civil or criminal defense lawyers.
“The purpose of this legislation is to explicitly prohibit the use of campaign funds to pay attorney's fees or other costs associated with criminal or civil litigation,” the bill language says.
The proposal, which was first introduced in May of 2013, and reintroduced in January this year, is sponsored by Democratic senator Ted O’Brien, and co-sponsored by 16 other Democrats including Joe Addabbo, Tony Avella, Neil Breslin, Martin Dilan, Adriano Espaillat, Michael Gianaris, Terry Gipson, Brad Hoylman, Liz Krueger, George Latimer, Bill Perkins, Jose Serrano, Daniel Squadron, Toby Ann Stavisky and Cecelia Tkaczyk.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/albany/2014/08/8550127/cuomos-attorney-spending-conflicts-democratic-bill
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)James M. Odato
Before the Moreland Commission was mothballed this spring, the panel's staffers pressed Albany County District Attorney David Soares to pursue their investigations and leads, according to a knowledgeable source.
But before that could happen, Gov. Andrew Cuomo disbanded the anti-corruption commission he had appointed after just nine months of work. Its files were swiftly gathered up by a federal prosecutor, who is now investigating both the commission's findings and its own operations.
According to people involved, two individuals associated with the Moreland Commission met with Soares in Albany earlier this year to discuss turning over their probes because of concerns the commission's work would be closed down. The meeting included the commission's head of investigations, Danya Perry, according to a person with knowledge of the session.
http://m.timesunion.com/local/article/Moreland-not-so-open-5666134.php?cmpid=twitter-mobile
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)By DAVID KLEPPER, The Associated Press
ALBANY >> Both are big-name governors of populous states. Both have presidential aspirations and a reputation for bare-knuckle bullying. And both are now facing criticism — and the scrutiny of federal prosecutors — for their administration’s penchant for micro-management.
While New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s bridge scandal resonates with any driver who has ever sat in traffic, the troubles facing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo over his handling of a special anti-corruption commission are more subtle, complicated by political and legal nuance.
