The New York Post e-Edition

Cuomo books $$ win in court

Zach Williams

Disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo can keep his pandemic memoir money — at least for now.

An Albany County court ruled Tuesday that a nowdefunct state ethics watchdog overstepped its authority when it ordered Cuomo (above) to surrender the $5.1 million he received from a controversial book deal inked while in office.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which was disbanded at the end of June, had argued that Cuomo — who resigned last year amid multiple scandals — improperly used staff and other state resources while writing “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic” in 2020.

But the court ruled that JCOPE unfairly pursued its case against Cuomo, who has denied wrongdoing.

“JCOPE issued the approval for the outside activity, then unilaterally determined wrongdoing, then withdrew the approval, and finally imposed the disgorgement penalty — all without the opportunity for a due-process hearing,” state Supreme Court Judge Denise Hartman’s ruling says.

The newly established Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government, which officially replaced JCOPE last month, could still pursue Cuomo, who has denied wrongdoing.

“JCOPE’s utter lawlessness in its treatment of Governor Cuomo has been exposed and the rule of law prevailed,” Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin said in a statement. “JCOPE’s conduct was shameful, unlawful, and a waste of taxpayers’ funds.”

CITY IN CRISIS

en-us

2022-08-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-08-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://nypost.pressreader.com/article/281642488960288

New York Post