Topline
The administration of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will spend as much as $2.5 million on legal defense as it is investigated by federal authorities for allegedly covering up the number of deaths in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic, the embattled governor confirmed Wednesday afternoon.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks at an event to announce five ... [+]
Key Facts
Cuomo, at an unrelated press conference at the Javits Center, said his legal defense in multiple ongoing investigations qualifies as a “state expense,” meaning it will be funded by taxpayers as opposed to his campaign.
In the case of the federal probe into his administration’s counting of nursing home deaths, this cost will come to as much as $2.5 million, according to a contract made public by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office.
OpenBooksNY, a website run by the comptroller’s office that publicizes state contracts, shows a multimillion-dollar contract between the executive chamber and law firm Morvillo Abramowitz was “approved and filed” on April 27.
A copy of the contract obtained by Albany Times Union says the law firm will charge up to $937.50 an hour for work from partner Elkan Abramowitz—a rate it notes is “significantly discounted” from his standard hourly rate.
Other attorneys defending the Cuomo administration had their rates severed 15% as part of the contract, according to the Times Union.
Crucial Quote
When asked if his campaign or personal expenses will be used to cover legal bills, Cuomo told reporters, “not at this time.”
Representatives for Cuomo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Key Background
The federal probe is looking into whether the Cuomo administration purposefully withheld the true number of coronavirus-linked nursing home deaths in New York. An investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James revealed the state had undercounted deaths by as much as 50%, and officials have since released an updated death toll of 15,500 nursing home residents. The New York Times in April reported aides to the governor engaged in a sustained effort to prevent the state’s health officials from releasing the true death toll to the public or sharing it with lawmakers. Cuomo has repeatedly denied the numbers were purposefully changed, but has said a lack of communication from his office facilitated a “void” that was filled with misinformation.
Tangent
In addition to the federal nursing home probe, Cuomo is being investigated by James for multiple scandals, including allegations of sexual misconduct from former aides. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are overseeing their own investigation into the governor as they weigh his impeachment.
