Judge allows Cuomo to keep $5 million for COVID-19 book he was helped to write by gubernatorial staff

On August 16, the judge sided with former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a dispute with the now defunct state ethics commission. Commission ordered Cuomo to relinquish $5 million he was paid to write a book about his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily News.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics initially approved Cuomo's request to write American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020. But she withdrew the approval the following year, alleging that Cuomo had not kept his promise not to use public resources for the book.

He admitted that he was even assisted by government officials in editing the manuscript. But at the same time, I noticed that these employees performed such work voluntarily in their personal time.

Last year, the JCOPE commission gave Cuomo 30 days to turn down $5,1 million, which is exactly what the publisher paid him for the book. Cuomo sued alleging that the committee members were biased against him. They violated his procedural rights.

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In an Aug. 16 ruling, State Judge Denise A. Hartman denied the commission's request for a refund. Hartman described it as an attempt to circumvent administrative procedures. The fact is that the fine was imposed without the necessary administrative hearing.

Gov. Kathy Hokul signed into law this year to dissolve the commission in favor of a new one. It's unclear if the new commission will continue to try to get Cuomo's money back.

“If, after reviewing the actions of JCOPE, the new panel decides to file a case against Cuomo, holds a court hearing and determines that there was a violation, the new panel will be able to impose a civil penalty on him,” Hartman wrote.

In an emailed statement, Cuomo's attorney, Rita Glavin, called JCOPE's behavior "shameful and illegal."

The message was left to a lawyer representing the commission.

"American Crisis" was published in October 2020

A few months after that, Cuomo resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. 11 women, including employees of his office, filed complaints against him.

And with regard to the book, the employees said they completed tasks during the working day. They included transcription of dictations, printing and delivery of documents. Employees, among other things, attended meetings with agents and publishers. One state official sent and received a total of about 1000 e-mails related to the work on the book.