Government attorney Andrew Cuomo said he is using “in-house lawyers” to conduct an independent investigation into the growing allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Counsel for Ex-Cuomo colleague Charlotte Bennett cited a recent report that “the Executive Chamber is providing staff with in-house lawyers to meet and engage in those interviews with them prior to their investigative interviews.”
“It is my understanding that these lawyers are also ‘debriefing’ employees after their interviews with investigators,” lawyer Debra Katz wrote in a letter to Attorney General Letitia James.
“It is very unfair and we object in the strongest possible terms to this explicit intervention that what you have said will be a ‘thorough and independent’ investigation.”
The investigation, which began earlier this month, is being conducted by former lawyers Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim and veteran employment attorney Anne Clarke.
In his three-page letter, Katz said Cuomo’s move would “have a chilling effect on potential witnesses or other accused,” adding: “We urge the governor to issue a directive to stop this highly inappropriate practice.” “
Katz cited a report to James to “issue a public statement” stating that his office had instructed the Executive Chamber to conduct a “parallel” investigation into allegations that he left an undisclosed office in the executive mansion late last year The female colleague was caught.
Last week, Alyssa McGrath, a current Cuomo colleague, publicly alleged that Cuomo tried to cover up the alleged incident by asking the accused to “not specifically tell me”.
Spokespeople for Cuomo and James did not immediately return requests for comment.
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