A report on Sunday stated that a county officer would file a complaint to the government as a longtime lieutenant. Andrew Cuomo called officials in recent weeks to assess his loyalty to the governor for sexual harassment and misconduct allegations.
Larry Schwartz, who previously held the highly influential post of secretary for governor and is now overseeing the New York’s Coronavirus vaccine rollout, launched a phone campaign in the past two weeks as more than a half-dozen women accused of improper Has come forward Comment or behavior.
“Best of all, it was unfair,” executive Told the Washington Post On condition of anonymity, expressing concern that his county’s access to the vaccine may hinge on Schwartz’s response. “Worst of all, it was clearly on the moral line.”
That officer on Friday alerted the public integrity unit of the state attorney general’s office to file an ethics complaint on the call.
The official said that Schwartz, who is also a member of the MTA board, urged the attorney general’s office to preserve judgment on the allegations until the conclusion of the investigation, and to make him aware of his views on the case.
“This is putting me in an impossible situation, where I have to choose between a strange political allegiance to a governor who presumably controls a lot of things, not just a vaccine, and is considered ludicrous. , And on the other hand, apply the vaccine every week to my residents who are really desperate for them, ”the executive told the Washington Post.
In several statements on the broadsheet, Schwartz openly admitted that he made the calls, but insisted that he did as a long-time friend of Cuomo, completely independent of the responsibility of the vaccine rollout. Was.
“I did nothing wrong,” Schwartz told The Washington Post, describing the conversation as “cordial, respectful and friendly.”
“They were listening to me as someone [known] Governor for 30 years and someone who has been involved in NYS government and politics for almost the same time. “
Schwartz insisted that no one refused to take their call, or indicated to them that they were uncomfortable.
He said, “Everyone took my call or called me back.” “NOBODY indicated that they were uncomfortable discussing it with me or that it was inappropriate.”
Although at least some calls came in just before the March 8 announcement of 10 new mass vaccination sites across the state, Schwartz said officials’ reception for the call had no effect on which areas were designated for vaccination centers. it was done.
Schwartz said he does not make decisions on new vaccination sites alone, and that the call is “based on merit, data and facts, not politics.”
When asked by the Washington Post if he had taken the necessary moral oaths for state public officials, Schwartz referred the comment to a lawyer, who did not immediately respond.
Other county officials who received the call told the paper that, while they were not bothered as an executive contacted the AG’s office, Schwartz should have known better.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, another county executive said, “Looking back on it, Larry was probably not the best person to make such a call.”
An officer from another county was added, who was also refused to identify, “I didn’t think there was a connection between what I was going to answer and my vaccine supply.” But I could see that maybe someone else probably got this notion. “
Schwartz insisted that he made calls of his own ambition, with no solicitation from Albany.
Cuomo’s special counsel Beth Garvey said in a statement, “There is no point in failing from Larry Schwartz on behalf of Larry Schwartz.”
Garvey stated that, because Schwartz is technically voluntarily acting as a voluntarily vaccinated Caesar, he is not required to take an ethical oath under the Cuomo executive order to facilitate people in the midst of an epidemic is.
The AG’s office did not respond to a request for comment from the paper.
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