Andrew Cuomo

The State Assembly Judiciary Committee has released a report saying Former Governor Andrew Cuomo used extensive state resources and property to write a book on the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The report from attorneys retained by the Assembly Judiciary Committee also further substantiated claims of sexual harassment against the former governor and concluded his administration “was not fully transparent” about the number of nursing home residents who died of the virus in the early days of the pandemic.

The Assembly released the 63-page report eight months after first launching an impeachment investigation while Cuomo was still in office.

State Asssemblyman Andy Goodell said the use of state employees and resources by Cuomo was both illegal and reflects a miscarriage of resources, “During the Pandemic, we as taxpayers would hope and expect that our Governor was focused solely on doing what’s in the best interest of the public and not dividing his time with using state resources to write a highly profitable book that is a self-promotion of what he was doing.”

The report was intended to determine whether lawmakers would move ahead with impeachment proceedings against the embattled governor, who had faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment, workplace bullying, misuse of state resources and various other misconduct at the time.

Goodell said the extensive interviews and research done for the report cost the state an estimated $5 million. He added that the Joint Commission on Public Ethics revoked its prior approval for the book deal due to Cuomo violating the terms and conditions of that approval, “That approval was conditional on Governor Cuomo not using any state staff for resources and it’s clear that he did. One of the consequences of the revocation of the approval of the book deal is that it opens the door for the state to basically fine Governor Cuomo $5 million that he made on the book deal, which ironically would cover the cost the state incurred in examining that book deal itself.”

State Senator George Borrello issued a statement saying, “The release of the Assembly’s impeachment investigation report offers more confirmation of the harassment, duplicity, gross abuse of power and potentially criminal actions committed by our former Governor.

Evident in the report is the extent to which Cuomo and his aides strong-armed officials at state Department of Health, JCOPE and other agencies for the governor’s own personal and political benefit. These accounts reflect a truly Machiavellian mindset and underscore how profoundly New York, and New Yorkers, suffered under his leadership.

The report provides the most detailed evidence to date that the timelines for the book deal and the release of the figures on nursing home deaths directly intersected. More investigation, both civil and criminal, of this apparent conspiracy to hide the truth for political and personal gain must be a priority.”

Cuomo ultimately resigned in August after state Attorney General Letitia James issued a report concluding he sexually harassed 11 women, including nine state employees.

The Assembly’s report, conducted by attorneys from law firm Davis Polk, further backed up several of the accusations in James’ report, including one that claimed he groped a state aide.

The Commission will hire outside lawyers to investigate the approval of former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s $5.1 million book deal.

JCOPE’s Chair Jose Nieves made a public announcement following a private executive session of the commission. He said they voted to approve the retention of independent counsel to conduct an inquiry into legal and procedural operations of the commission.

At issue are claims that former Governor Andrew Cuomo used state resources to produce his book American Crisis as well as the claim that a staff member of JCOPE gave Cuomo approval to receive $5 million to write a book about COVID instead of having the Commission which is appointed by elected officials make that decision.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James and the Assembly Judiciary Committee are probing the book deal as well.

Governor Kathy Hochul has called for JCOPE to be replaced as well.

In a joint statement by Speaker Carl Heastie and Chair Charles Lavine, the committee says it will continue to review evidence before it releases its final report.

“The committee will take all appropriate steps to ensure that this effort does not interfere with various ongoing investigations by the United States Attorney concerning nursing home data; the attorney general concerning the governor’s memoir; and local law enforcement authorities in five jurisdictions – Manhattan, Albany, Westchester, Nassau and Oswego – regarding possible criminal incidents of sexual misconduct.”

On Friday, Heastie announced the Assembly would suspend its investigation of Cuomo once he steps down.

Heastie said lawyers had advised the body’s judiciary committee that the state constitution doesn’t authorize the Legislature to impeach an elected official no longer in office.

The decision was met with criticism from Republican members of the Legislature and also some Democrats.

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul will take over as governor when Cuomo steps down.