DiNapoli Rejects Claim That Cuomo Book Probe Is Politically Motivated

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is pushing back against claims from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s spokesperson that a recent referral to the state attorney general is politically-motivated piling on.

On Monday, DiNapoli sent a letter to Attorney General Tish James authorizing her to begin a probe of Governor Cuomo’s pandemic book deal and whether he used government staff to write the COVID-19 memoir. All three are Democrats.

Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi says “the idea there was criminality involved here is patently absurd,” and questioned the motives of both DiNapoli and James, who he said have discussed running for governor themselves. DiNapoli addressed the situation on WAMC’s Capitol Connection with Alan Chartock Wednesday.