Muzzling an Anti-Corruption Cop

In a rare show of bipartisanship, the state Board of Elections is expected to approve new rules Wednesday that will seriously handcuff one of the few independent investigators of political corruption. That’s Albany for you. Approval by the board’s commissioners (two Democrats, two Republicans) would rein in the powers of its independent chiefenforcement counsel, Risa Sugarman.

Clearly, she’s ruffled a few political feathers — as she was appointed to do. So why tie her hands now?

Sugarman’s job, recall, was created as part of the sordid 2014 deal that saw Gov. Cuomo disband his corruption-fighting Moreland Commission in exchange for mostly meaningless legislative ethics reforms.

Now, five ex-Moreland members say the rule changes, which give the board greater control over Sugarman’s investigations and let it second-guess her, “would return the board back to its pre-Moreland emasculated state.”

Back then, the BOE had done just one investigation in four years, ignored anonymous tips and even refused to look into political campaigns.

Sugarman, in just her first year, referred seven cases to prosecutors and issued subpoenas in eight other investigations.

Her work, as the Moreland alums note, has been “fair, even-handed and independent.” The new rules would undermine that independence — just as Cuomo deliberately undermined his own commission.

All this follows the recent convictions (for a second time) of former power brokers Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos, who abused their positions to line their pockets.

Which makes this the worst possible time to muzzle one of Albany’s only effective and independent watchdogs.