29 May 2021: "Good Government" Groups on Board with Taxpayer Funds to Pay Cuomo Defense Lawyers

Good government groups weigh in on Cuomo’s taxpayer-funded defense

The following excerpts from this report describe their rationales:

Some good government groups feel the governor’s use of taxpayer dollars for his own defense, is appropriate, although they acknowledge that, to taxpayers, it will be hard to digest.

“There will be times, and this is certainly one of them, when using public funds to pay for a governor's defense is tough to swallow, but taxpayers pay for public defenders for accused murders,” John Kaehny of ReInvent Albany told Capital Tonight. “Additionally, we strongly support public financing of political campaigns, and it would be inconsistent to ask a governor to raise money for a legal defense, when we don't want them to do so for a campaign.”

Public defenders are appointed for individuals officially charged with crimes in criminal courts who cannot afford the cost of hiring an attorney to defend themselves. Governor Cuomo has not yet been officially charged with any crime. Governor Cuomo is also a millionaire who lives in a mansion and owns a yacht.

Here's a second excerpt:

The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) joined ReInvent Albany in supporting the governor’s use of taxpayer money.

“Like any public official, he's entitled to the coverage of legal costs relating to his role as governor. He is presumed innocent,” according to Blair Horner, executive director of NYPIRG. “If convicted, however, he will be on the hook for reimbursing the taxpayers. The decision to provide such coverage should be done openly and publicly.”

We think this is a much stronger argument that applies to the governor's COVID nursing home deaths scandals and cover-up, the unlawful use of government staff as unpaid workers in producing his pandemic "leadership" book from which he personally profits, the misappropriation of limited government COVID testing resources to benefit members of his family and connected political associates, to name just three of the Governor's scandals that are directly related to his role as governor.

It would not however justify Governor Cuomo's hiring of attorneys at public expense to defend himself against the allegations of sexual harassment raised by at least nine women because they do not involve any official acts on his part.

A third and final excerpt argues for the establishment of a legal defense fund that would avoid taxpayer expenses altogether:

Susan Lerner, executive director of New York Common Cause, would prefer the governor form a Legal Defense Fund (LDF).

“It’s a way to raise money from his donors for the stated purpose of providing him with the best lawyers money can buy, if that’s what he is looking for,” she said. “At the federal level, elected officials who run into problems, whether its campaigns or outside activities, are required to set up Legal Defense Funds.”

New York state law doesn't provide for this option for state government officials, so it would require changes in the law before it might be seriously considered. In practice, large donors who provide money for these funds will do so because they expect the politician to return the favor and benefit their interests using their government power. We view it as a form of influence peddling.

Funny how "good government" groups seem to be mostly about how to benefit and protect the interests of politicians.