12 October 2021: Hochul Terminates Cuomo Influence Network's Information Suppression Program in NY State Government

Hochul scraps Cuomo's 'defense' program critics say helped suppress negative information

Andrew M. Cuomo used his power as governor of New York to embed his supporters and loyalists in positions where they could serve his interests, including media organizations, political advocacy groups, and also within New York's state government. Cuomo's "influence network", as we've described it, has diminished with Cuomo's resignation to avoid impeachment proceedings, with this report covering the latest action to further shrink it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul is ending a program begun under her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, which had helped suppress negative information about Cuomo and his administration.

In 2015, longtime Cuomo aide Linda Lacewell – known within his administration as the governor’s “Minister of Defense” – started the state’s first-ever “ethics, risk and compliance” initiative. When announced, the program was framed as bringing a private-sector risk management model to state agencies and public authorities. But for Cuomo’s office, the job also meant managing negative information that might come to light — a practice that exploded into public view this year during the controversy over Cuomo’s alleged suppression of nursing home death data.

Lacewell embedded highly paid senior attorneys in two dozen state agencies, who served as the eyes and ears of the governor’s office, reporting back to the Executive Chamber. Most recently, the position of chief special counsel within the Executive Chamber was held by Victoria Lane, who'd begun the job in April.

According to a person with knowledge of the matter, Hochul’s office recently offered Lane the chance to be reassigned, after informing her that her position and the program were being eliminated. Lane, who could not be reached for comment on Monday, is said to have resigned instead.

The two dozen special counsels for “ethics, risk and compliance” within agencies and public authorities will also be offered the chance for reassignment.

The practice is similar to the inherently corrupt methods used in totalitarian dictatorships of embedding political officers into government, business, and military organizations to spy on their perceived enemies and to keep their subjects under control. In this case, the role of these embedded Cuomo loyalists was to protect the Cuomo regime by suppressing information that might reflect badly upon it. Replacement NY Governor Hochul's action is overdue.