Impeachment pol dings Cuomo (NY)

[brooklynite]

Politico

In a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Judiciary chair Charles Lavine rebuked Cuomo for comments made by his comms director Rich Azzopardi. A prolific tweeter, Azzopardi alleged that Attorney General Tish James is playing political games with her investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and ethical violations against Cuomo. Lavine reminded Cuomo that he had sent a notice at the start of his committee’s concurrent investigation warning the governor and anyone associated with him against intimidation or retaliation against potential witnesses.

“It is therefore difficult for me to comprehend your communications director tweeting that Attorney General James, whose office is conducting a parallel investigation, ‘says she may run against the governor,’” Lavine wrote. “It is obvious that attempts to demean the Attorney General serve as well to undermine the investigation and send profoundly negative signals to witnesses.”

The messaging Lavine’s referring to — which has been on a slow build from Cuomo’s office for the past couple of months — has been not subtle. When the head of the state’s transit union said he would pull his support for the governor, this is how Azzopardi responded: “We also understand he is a political supporter of Tish James and she says she may run against the governor, and he wants more benefits in his contract.” Last week, after reports that Cuomo was scheduled to be questioned by the attorney general’s team, Azzopardi told The New York Times that “the continued leaks are more evidence of the transparent political motivation of the attorney general’s review.”

James’ name is regularly floated as a gubernatorial candidate by her friends and admirers, but she has not publicly stated any intent to run against Cuomo next year. (To our knowledge, nor have the two outside attorneys James hired to ensure an apolitical, independent investigation.)

[Dawson Leery]

1. I'm with Cuomo.