NY AG James Rejects Governor’s Proposal for her to Choose Independent Investigator with a Cuomo Appointee

By Yehudit Garmaise

  State Attorney General Letitia James on Sunday urged Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow her office to oversee an investigation into the allegations of harassment two women have brought against him.

   In December, Lindsey Boylan, a former aide to Gov. Cuomo, who is running for Manhattan borough president, first publicly accused the governor of harassment in December, in a series of comments on Twitter. Last week, Boylan spoke to members of the press. 

   Last night, after the New York Times published an account of Charlotte Bennett, who was an executive assistant and health policy adviser in the Cuomo administration until she left in November and the second woman to accuse Gov. Cuomo of speaking to her inappropriately, the governor’s office quickly responded to James’ question for an investigation by making a counter-offer to appoint Judge Janet DiFiore, a Cuomo appointee and the chief judge on New York State’s highest court, to oversee his investigation.

   However, after criticism was launched against Gov. Cuomo’s office for choosing an appointee with close ties to the administration, the governor revised his plan by saying that Attorney General James and Judge Fiore could assign an independent investigator of their choosing to investigate the two women’s accusations.

  “The governor’s office wants a review of the sexual harassment claims made against the governor to be done in a manner beyond reproach,” said special counselor and senior Cuomo adviser Beth Garvey in a statement.  

   However, hours, later, James rejected the governor’s proposal.

   “The state’s Executive Law clearly gives my office the authority to investigate this matter once the governor provides a referral,” Attorney General James tweeted. “While I have deep respect for Chief Judge DiFiore, I am the duly elected attorney general, and it is my responsibility to carry out this task, per Executive Law.

   “The governor must provide this referral so an independent investigation with subpoena power can be conducted.”

(Photo Don Pollard// Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)