Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in the running again to be named a Washington watchdog group”™s “Scoundrel of the Month.”
Cuomo, facing questions and a potential federal probe over allegations that he tampered with the investigations of an anti-corruption commission, was previously nominated for the ignominious honor in May over accusations the governor and his aides used private email accounts and untraceable text messages to conduct official state business.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a government accountability nonprofit, asks visitors to its site and subscribers to its mailing lists to vote to choose its “Scoundrel of the Month.” This month, the embattled Cuomo”™s competition for the title includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which was nominated for lobbying to further limit political disclosure information, and Rep. Michael Conway, R-Texas, who wanted to eliminate a provision that requires elected officials to report on their financial disclosure forms when they receive free trips.
Of Cuomo, the nonprofit, said, “This latest bait-and-switch is only too predictable coming from a governor who has shown a contempt for transparency.”
The nonprofit, called CREW for short, was formed and is led by Melanie Sloan, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. CREW is known on Capitol Hill for its annual “Most Corrupt” list of federal politicians and previously gave Cuomo an honorable mention designation on a list of “Worst Governors.”
The governor formed the anti-corruption panel, known as the Moreland Commission, in the summer of 2013 but disbanded the group in April as part of a deal with legislators to approve a package of minor ethics reforms. A recent report from The New York Times alleged Cuomo and aides had interfered with the commission”™s work and backed its members off investigations into groups with ties to the governor. U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara sent a letter to Cuomo warning of potential obstruction of justice and witness tampering investigations regarding the governor”™s office”™s correspondence with commission members after the Times published its story.
Cuomo, a Demcorat, is seeking re-election this year against Republican Rob Astorino, the Westchester County executive, who has proposed a 10-point plan to improve ethics in state government. Astorino”™s proposal includes term limits for statewide office and the Legislature and a provision that prohibits the naming of taxpayer-funded landmarks and roadways after current elected officials.
