Andrew Cuomo fights in court to keep $5M from book
Former Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, is fighting to keep the $5.1 million he earned from his book about leading the state during the pandemic. Cuomo’s legal team challenged the constitutionality of the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, arguing that it is not equipped to investigate the Executive Branch due to legislators’ oversized influence over its members. The commission’s lawyers maintain that they have the authority to investigate whether Cuomo used taxpayer resources to write the book. Albany Democrats created the oversight body last year to replace the much-criticized Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which was seen as being too beholden to Cuomo.
The hearing, held in Albany, mainly focused on a request by Cuomo’s legal representatives for a preliminary injunction ahead of a September hearing that will be held by the commission on the book deal. Crown State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle has not yet ruled on the injunction request but said he might give a final ruling on the case this summer, rendering the injunction request moot. Either party can appeal to the state Court of Appeals, which makes decisions on New York constitutional issues. Gregory Dubinksy, one of Cuomo’s lawyers, said, “We appreciate that we have a judge who clearly understands the important constitutional issues here and are confident that we will prevail.”
Cuomo announced his book in 2018 after he led the state during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, he enjoyed national attention amid dysfunction at the federal level. His book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic,” was a bestseller before Cuomo faced a host of scandals. First, his handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes came under scrutiny, including allegations that his administration withheld data. Then, multiple women came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. Cuomo eventually resigned in August 2021, amidst impeachment talks by the state Assembly. A state Assembly probe suggested that Cuomo used public resources to write the book.
FAQs:
What is Andrew Cuomo trying to do?
Andrew Cuomo is trying to keep the $5.1 million he earned from his book about leading New York during the pandemic.
Why is Cuomo facing controversy in relation to his book?
There are allegations that Cuomo used taxpayer resources to write his book, which is illegal. Also, a state Assembly probe suggested the former governor used public resources to write the book.
When did Cuomo release his book?
Cuomo announced his book in 2018 and published it in 2020.
What are the allegations against Cuomo in addition to the use of taxpayer resources for the book?
Cuomo faced allegations of mishandling COVID-19 in nursing homes and sexual misconduct.
Andrew Cuomo battles in court to retain $5 million earned from his book.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo fought a state ethics agency in court on Friday to keep the more than $5 million he earned from his book about leading New York during the pandemic. Cuomo’s lawyers argued that the New York State Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, which was created to replace the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, lacks the authority to investigate the Executive Branch because legislators have oversized influence over its members. However, lawyers for the commission claimed that it has the right to probe whether Cuomo used taxpayer resources to write the book, which netted him a publishing paycheck of $5.1 million.
Cuomo’s legal action focused on a request for a preliminary injunction ahead of a September hearing by the commission on the book’s deal. The former governor’s 2020 book was a bestseller until a series of scandals that took away the national fame Cuomo enjoyed earlier in the pandemic. Justice Thomas Marcelle has yet to rule on the injunction request, but a final decision is expected this summer. Gregory Dubinsky, Cuomo’s lawyer, is confident that they will prevail. The commission declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
Cuomo announced that he had written a book about his experience leading the state during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2018. However, his political fortunes soon took a turn for the worse amid growing questions about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in nursing homes in the state, which included his administration’s refusal to release data that would have given the public a clearer picture of the true death toll in the facilities. The allegations against Cuomo also included charges of sexual misconduct from several women. Ultimately, Cuomo resigned in August 2021 as the state assembly prepared to impeach him from office, and a sprawling investigation found that he had pressured state employees to help write his book. Cuomo denied any wrongdoing regarding the book or the allegations.