ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo is complaining in court that proceedings before the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics were biased.
On April 1, he sued JCOPE in Albany County Supreme Court, alleging JCOPE has prejudged him on the question of whether he violated Public Officers Law Section 74. The issue surrounds his book "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic," which was published Oct. 13, 2020.
JCOPE, a 14-person board, investigates complaints of violation of the law. It sent a letter to Cuomo in April 2021 that said he may have abused his position for personal benefit and a month later decided to initiate a full investigation.
In November, JCOPE issued a finding that Cuomo used state property, resources and personnel while completing the book.
"JCOPE made these determinations before providing Governor Cuomo any adjudicatory process, as he was entitled to under New York law," Cuomo's lawsuit says.
"Moreover, although JCOPE proceedings are legally required to be confidential and it is a crime for any JCOPE commissioner or staffer to intentionally release confidential information without authorization... everything leading up to Resolution 21-03 was leaked to the press."
JCOPE's next resolution voided Cuomo's pre-book approval letter, finding he was not entitled to retain money he made on the book. It was a finding resisted by Attorney General Letitia James, whose office said the move was unlawful.
Cuomo faced sexual harassment allegations that led to his resignation in 2021, though criminal charges never progressed.
Cuomo is represented by attorneys at Glavin PLLC and Holwell Shuster & Goldberg.