Gov lawyers up to fight fed suit

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo has hired prominent First Amendment lawyer Floyd Abrams to defend him against a federal lawsuit challenging a new law that requires politically active nonprofit organizations to publicly disclose their donors.

The lawsuit brought by Citizens Union, which claims the law violates First Amendment protections of free speech, names Cuomo and state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman as the defendants.

While Schneiderman is representing his own office and typically would represent the governor, Cuomo received permission to hire his own outside counsel.