Saturday, July 03, 2021

3 July 2021: Editorial - NY Pols Not Really Taking Cuomo Scandals Seriously

A whole lot of winking and nodding at Albany’s impeachment ‘probe’ of Cuomo

This editorial decries the lack of serious action to address Governor Cuomo's multiple scandals:

Speaker Carl Heastie, whose chamber is empowered to launch impeachment proceedings, has been playing snail, dragging out his “investigation” and blocking efforts to remove the gov any time soon. Assemblymembers took until Wednesday just to decide to issue subpoenas, and the law firm they hired for their probe — Davis, Polk & Wardwell — has mysteriously declined to interview state troopers who’ve guarded Cuomo, the Times Union reports.

That firm, by the way, has ties to Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, who got her job thanks to Cuomo and who, along with other top judges (all likewise named by the gov), would help decide on his impeachment. (Sweet arrangement, no?)

It’s outrageous. Cuomo ordered nursing homes to accept COVID-infectious patients, then actively covered up the number of deaths in those facilities. Survivors of the dead want answers — and justice. So, too, do the multiple women alleging he sexually harassed them.

And all New Yorkers should be livid over Cuomo’s use of state workers to help write and promote his book, which earned him $5.1 million, among assorted other wrongdoing.

Yet the Assembly seems “more focused on buying time for the governor” than “holding him accountable,” fumes Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt. He’s right.

Heastie & Co. need to quit stalling, finish their “probes” and move ahead with impeachment now. If they won’t, voters should hold them accountable.

"Heastie & Co." have gained greater influence and power as a result of how the scandals have politically weakened Andrew M. Cuomo, without greater responsibility. Why would they ever give up getting more of what they want from such a figure who has become so compliant to their wishes? At least, until they figure out they can get more of what they want without Cuomo than with him?

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