ALBANY – Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has again succeeded in delaying New York state’s ethics panel’s investigation into his $5 million COVID-19-era book deal.
The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying and Government agreed to a temporary restraining order, halting its investigation into Cuomo’s COVID-19 era book memoir “American Crisis” after the ex-Governor filed a lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court this week.
Cuomo’s lawyers argue that the long winding legal drama over whether he used government staffers and got proper approval to write his book has ultimately resulted in COELIG violating the former Governor’s due process rights, freedom of speech, and the 7th Amendment among other legal violations.
“As demonstrated herein, COELIG is continuing to perpetuate the same illegal JCOPE conduct that occurred just before its abolishment, and which was condemned by this Court,” Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, wrote in the 45-page-lawsuit filed in Albany County Supreme Court this week.
“Specifically, COELIG has ignored mandatory statutory requirements that are a pre-condition to going forward with this Proceeding, a directive of this Court, and Governor Cuomo’s fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution and the N.Y. Constitution,” Cuomo’s lawyers continued.
Both sides are due back in court for oral arguments on April 30.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi declined to comment, but continued to maintain that governor’s office staff voluntarily worked on the book.
The state’s highest court ruled against Cuomo 4-3 in February in a previous case he’d filed asking the judges to completely scrap COELIG altogether, arguing the panel’s makeup is unconstitutional.
Marcelle, who had also heard the previous case, ruled in favor of Cuomo that COELIG was unconstitutional, though the decision was reversed.
A spokesperson for COELIG declined to comment on pending litigation.
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