NY ethics board tells former Gov. Cuomo to return book money

ALBANY, N.Y. – Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo was ordered by New York's morals committee Tuesday to springiness up millions of dollars a steadfast paid him to constitute a publication astir his effect to the coronavirus pandemic.

An lawyer for Cuomo instantly called the enactment unconstitutional and promised a fight.

Cuomo was directed to crook implicit proceeds earned from “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic” wrong 30 days nether a solution approved 12-1 by the Joint Commission connected Public Ethics, according to aggregate media reports.

The bid came a period aft the committee voted to rescind the morals approval it had fixed Cuomo earlier helium entered into the $5.1 cardinal publication deal.

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“American Crisis" was published successful October 2020, months earlier Cuomo resigned amid findings helium sexually harassed 11 women. It was published by Crown Publishing Group, a part of Penguin Random House.

The unit of the committee granted support of the woody successful July 2020, erstwhile his counsel told the committee that Cuomo agreed to not usage immoderate authorities unit oregon resources to nutrient his publication and that helium would constitute it “entirely connected his ain time.” But complaints aboriginal surfaced that authorities property, resources and unit were utilized to prepare, write, edit and people the book.

Cuomo has acknowledged that authorities employees helped with tasks including editing the manuscript. But he’s claimed that those employees were volunteering.

“JCOPE’s actions contiguous are unconstitutional, transcend its ain authorization and look to beryllium driven by governmental interests alternatively than the facts and the law," Cuomo lawyer Jim McGuire said successful a prepared statement. “Should they question to enforce this action, we’ll spot them successful court.”

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There was nary contiguous remark from the lawyer general's office, which would enforce the order.

Efforts to claw backmost the wealth could beryllium complicated, successful portion due to the fact that Cuomo already disbursed $1.5 cardinal to a foundation and a spot for his 3 daughters.

Cuomo disclosed successful May t chapeau helium was paid a $3.1 cardinal beforehand to constitute the publication and that helium was to marque different $2 cardinal connected it implicit the adjacent 2 years nether the publishing contract. Cuomo spokesperson Richard Azzopardi had said past that aft taxes and expenses, Cuomo netted $1.5 cardinal connected the publication past year, with $500,000 of the profits donated to the United Way of New York State. The remainder was being enactment successful a spot for his daughters.

Spokespeople for Cuomo and Crown did not respond to emails Tuesday asking if Cuomo had received wealth for the publication beyond the archetypal $3.1 million.

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A abstracted authorities Assembly probe released past period recovered grounds that Cuomo, who resigned successful August, had his unit walk copious amounts of clip connected the project.

Junior and elder unit members told investigators they were asked to execute publication tasks during their enactment day, including transcribing dictations, printing and delivering documents, and attending meetings with agents and publishers. One elder authorities authoritative sent and received 1,000 emails astir the book, the legislative study said.

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