8 October 2021: Cuomo Tries to Influence NY Assembly Impeachment Probe Report

Cuomo attorney questions A.G.’s motives — again — ahead of Assembly impeachment report

The NY Assembly Judiciary Committee's report on its impeachment probe findings may be released as early as next week, which seems to be driving Andrew M. Cuomo latest move to try to influence it before it is published.

That transparent motive is clear just from the headline of this report, but as you'll see from the following excerpt, Cuomo's attorney seems to be grasping at straws:

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s lawyer is back on the attack, once again claiming the damning report that led to his downfall is biased and cryptically warning others they could face a similar fate.

Attorney Rita Glavin sent a letter to lawmakers Friday, rehashing many of Cuomo’s arguments and claims of innocence despite resigning amid sexual harassment allegations in August. Glavin is again castigating Attorney General James’ investigation into her client’s alleged behavior.

In the missive, Glavin cautions lawmakers that should the Assembly “go along with this false narrative, you will be creating a new standard for sexual harassment that every member of the legislature must be prepared to be judged by.”...

In the latest letter, Glavin insinuates that recent comments made by James indicate the state’s top prosecutor had a personal hand in the investigation, which was meant to be conducted independently.

There are “new questions about whether the AG violated the terms of the investigative referral made to her office,” Glavin writes, pointing to comments James made at a recent Ulster County Democratic Committee dinner.

“When they came into my office, and they told me about the fact that Albany was toxic . . . how they were harassed. . . I believed them, because they were specific,” James said in reference to Cuomo’s accusers.

Glavin argues that the comments show James “did not hand the reigns of this investigation to an “independent” law firm to do the investigation, as was required by the terms of the March 1 referral.”

While NY Governor, Cuomo's practice was to have his closest aides rewrite official reports that might reflect badly on him before they were released, so his personal attorney's letter to the Judiciary Committee seems to be the best he can do now that he is out of power.