Andrew Cuomo used $285k marketing campaign funds to pay authorized payments as he fights sexual harassment allegations

Andrew Cuomo has used $285,000 of marketing campaign funds to pay authorized payments in his combat in opposition to the sexual harassment allegations introduced by a number of ladies, a brand new report claims. 

Paperwork filed Friday with the state Board of Elections, and seen by the New York Post, reveal the New York governor paid lawyer Rita Glavin $111,774 on Might 3 for ‘skilled providers’ after hiring her to defend him within the scandal. 

One month in a while June 2, the governor paid out one other $173,098 in marketing campaign money to her regulation agency – the exact same day Cuomo informed reporters political donations weren’t going towards his authorized prices ‘at the moment’.

Cuomo employed Glavin to signify him as claims of sexual harassment, misconduct and inappropriate habits began to mount in opposition to him earlier this 12 months. 

The discharge of the paperwork comes forward of a weekend the place the governor is predicted to be questioned for the primary time over the flurry of allegations. 

Through the early days of the pandemic, Cuomo was lauded for his dealing with of the disaster within the virus epicenter of the world, along with his every day press briefings even incomes him an Emmy.

However the governor’s status has unraveled in latest months as 9 ladies have now come ahead to accuse him of sexual harassment and inappropriate habits.

Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations saying he ‘by no means touched anybody inappropriately’ and ‘by no means made any inappropriate advances’ however has apologized for making anybody really feel ‘uncomfortable.’ 

In the meantime, he has additionally been rocked by the COVID-19 nursing house deaths scandal and pointed questions have arisen over the writing of his controversial memoir and the alleged particular remedy afforded to his family and friends within the early days of the pandemic.     

Cuomo’s first accuser Lindsey Boylan, 36, retweeted a submit from New York Instances journalist Luis Ferré-Sadurní Friday, that includes a screengrab of the bills and detailing the excellence between what the governor mentioned on the time and what the filings present.

The 2 funds are listed as paid by ‘Andrew Cuomo for New York, Inc.’ and paid to ‘Glavin PLLC.’ 

Boylan wrote alongside the submit: ‘*pretends to be shocked*.’ 

The funds are listed solely as ‘skilled bills’ with no different particulars supplied. 

Glavin, a former US Justice Division official, first represented Cuomo when the primary present aide in his workplace went on the file with allegations in opposition to him. 

The aide, Alyssa McGrath, informed The New York Instances Cuomo had flirted along with her, regarded down her shirt and commented on her look by calling her ‘stunning’ in Italian.

Within the June 2 press convention, Cuomo denied hiring non-public counsel to signify him within the numerous investigations he’s going through. 

The governor mentioned it was commonplace apply for investigations right into a state official to be paid for by the state.

‘The Government Chamber has retained the counsel and that may be a state expense,’ he informed reporters. 

‘That has been in each investigation. In order that’s the place we are actually.’

When requested if he was utilizing or deliberate to make use of marketing campaign funds for private authorized bills, he responded: ‘Not at the moment.’ 

DailyMail.com has reached out to the governor’s workplace for remark.  

Investigators are anticipated to query Cuomo this weekend concerning the sexual harassment allegations in opposition to him in an indication that the state’s probe could also be reaching its ultimate phases. 

The state employed two exterior legal professionals, Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark, to steer the investigation into Cuomo – which is being overseen by Lawyer Normal Letitia James, The New York Times reported.

Kim and Clark are anticipated to interview Cuomo in Albany on Saturday 4 months after investigations into him started, sources informed the outlet.

Investigators have been at all times anticipated to talk with Cuomo, who mentioned firstly of the probe in March that he would ‘totally cooperate.’ Cuomo can be going through an impeachment inquiry within the state meeting. 

Kim and Clark have gathered testimony from a number of of the ladies who’ve accused him as a part of the investigation. 

Cuomo initially apologized and mentioned he ‘discovered an vital lesson’ about his habits round ladies, although he is since denied he did something improper and questioned the motivations of accusers. 

He has additionally rebuffed calls to step apart over the allegations. 

‘We have now mentioned repeatedly that the governor does not wish to touch upon this overview till he has cooperated, however the continued leaks are extra proof of the clear political motivation of the lawyer basic’s overview,’ Cuomo senior advisor Richard Azzopardi mentioned.  

Azzopardi’s assertion Thursday was the second time that Cuomo’s high spokesperson has claimed that James, additionally a Democrat, and her probe have been politically motivated.

In April, Azzopardi blasted James for confirming that her workplace was additionally investigating whether or not Cuomo broke the regulation by having members of his employees assist write and promote his latest memoir ‘American Disaster: Management Classes From the Covid-19 Pandemic’.

‘Each the comptroller and the lawyer basic have spoken to individuals about operating for governor and it’s unethical to wield prison referral authority to additional political self-interest‎,’ Azzopardi mentioned on the time.

A few of Cuomo’s high allies within the state legislature have referred to as on the general public to await the outcomes of James’ investigation and to not undermine her integrity.

State Sen. Gustavo Rivera, a Bronx Democrat, mentioned he trusts the impartial investigators chosen by James, and mentioned that ‘their credibility and professionalism cannot be questioned.’

‘There was a way from individuals early on that as a result of the governor was so instrumental in serving to her turn into AG that she would then turn into conscious of his political wants,’ Rivera, who chairs the state senate’s well being committee mentioned, 

‘Now she’s confirmed time and again that she’s accountable to the individuals of the state of New York.’

Sen. John Liu, Majority Assistant Whip within the state Senate, mentioned that Azzopardi’s assertion is the ‘typical Cuomo playbook.’

‘These sorts of feedback, making an attempt to run interference, making an attempt to deflect, making an attempt to implicate no less than politically — my learn of it’s that people within the governor’s circle together with the governor are no less than nervous and at most operating terrified,’ mentioned Liu, a Democrat who’s referred to as on Cuomo to resign.

‘Clearly, Cuomo’s making an attempt to undermine the AG,’ Liu mentioned. ‘I believe as a result of he’s in a precarious scenario, he’d be making an attempt to undermine anyone who’s investigating him.’

This 12 months’s legislative session has concluded, however lawmakers may return later in the summertime or fall if the probe winds up.

‘I haven’t got a way of a transparent timeframe,’ Liu mentioned. ‘I believe Tish James is being as thorough as she will be able to, figuring out that it doesn’t matter what she will likely be accused of politics. However I I believe she’s conducting an intensive investigation and all of the info, and I stay up for her conclusions and proposals.’

The state meeting’s judiciary committee has launched its personal probe into whether or not there are grounds to question the governor on points from sexual misconduct to his $5 million e book deal.

It is also unclear when the Meeting probe will wrap up, nevertheless it’s possible that it will not be earlier than James’ investigation concludes. 

A minimum of one accuser has mentioned she solely desires to talk with investigators within the lawyer basic’s probe slightly than sit via two separate interviews.

‘The AG’s report goes to be important,’ Liu mentioned. ‘The lawyer basic’s report and proposals will carry an excessive amount of weight.’

Boylan was the primary girl to accuse the governor in social media posts again in December.

She labored for Cuomo’s workforce from March 2015 to October 2018. 

Boylan claims the governor kissed her on the lips and instructed they play a sport of strip poker.   

The governor has denied these allegations. 

After she got here ahead with the accusations, the governor’s workplace launched her personnel data which included disciplinary suggestions in opposition to her and allegations of bullying.

Boylan has mentioned her personnel materials was leaked in an effort to smear her.  

Since she got here ahead, no less than eight different ladies have accused the governor of sexual harassment or inappropriate habits.  

In the meantime, the intercourse pest probe is only one in a ballooning variety of investigations into the embattled governor.

The governor is being investigated over claims he lined up COVID-19 deaths within the state’s nursing properties after it emerged the numbers launched to the general public confirmed solely half the variety of fatalities.  

A separate inquiry can be underway in relation to his memoir e book to find out whether or not Cuomo unlawfully abused state sources, together with staffers, to draft and advertise. 

Cuomo’s workplace has insisted staffers who labored on the e book did so voluntarily. 

Investigators are additionally wanting into whether or not Cuomo misused public sources by giving his household preferential COVID-19 testing within the early days of the pandemic when testing was not widespread.