Talks to expand AG’S role continue
Few details offered on legislative solution to allow investigation into public corruption
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and state Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James both indicated last year that they would support an expansion of her office’s jurisdiction to investigate public corruption.
It’s an authority that prior attorneys general have requested dating back years.
James, who took office in January, told the Times Union editorial board last August during her inaugural campaign that she would join her predecessors in seeking a standing referral from the governor to investigate corruption, as well as a more permanent legislative solution.
Cuomo signaled his support for the measure in a candidate questionnaire last year as he sought an endorsement from the good government group Citizens Union, saying he would back an expansion of the attorney general’s authority “to investigate public corruption and electoral malfeasance.”
When asked about the survey response last November, Cuomo’s office said: “The framework for legally expanding the scope of the attorney general’s power as well as other pieces of potential ethics legislation will be outlined next year when the new Legislature takes office.”
Three months into one of the busiest legislative sessions in recent years, there have been no new developments. A proposal to expand the attorney general’s power was not included in the governor’s ethics agenda for 2019, although both offices claim the measure is under discussion.
“We are continuing to engage in discussions on this issue, along with several other proposed ethics reforms,” Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said.
James in August said she had reminded Cuomo, who aggressively sought the same authority during his single term as attorney general, of his past position.
“He said, ‘We’ll continue to have those discussions,’” James said. “And so, we’re going to continue to have those discussions. I’m going to continue to push. I’m not going to give up.”
Still, James, who has conducted few press conferences in her first term, has not publicly pressed the issue.
Citizens Union endorsed the governor last year over his politically inexperienced Democratic primary challenger, in spite of the group’s longtime criticisms of the governor’s opaque budget process and his failure to enact meaningful ethics reform.
“This issue has been, and remains, a priority for Citizens Union,” the group’s executive director, Betsy Gotbaum, said in a statement. “Since January, the Legislature and governor have passed a number of meaningful reforms to strengthen democracy in New York state. We urge Gov. Cuomo to keep his word.”
As attorney general, Cuomo had sought a legislative fix to broaden his office’s jurisdiction to pursue public corruption cases, rather than a standing referral. His office has since argued that that type of blanket authority may be illegal.