Page 32 - Sept Oct Issue
P. 32
The Cycle of Correction in New York State Politics
In July of 2013 Governor Andrew Michael Cuomo unleashed a “Commission to Investigate Public Corruption”.
The Commission was organized under the Moreland Act and NYS Executive Law 63(B), hence the naming of
the panel, the Moreland Commission. The purpose of this new Commission was to independently investigate
systemic public corruption in New York State.
The elected oficial who was to appoint members of the Commission was NYS Attorney General, Eric
Schneiderman. The Commission would have subpoena powers, and examine witnesses and subjects of
investigation under Oath. They would review the adequacy of existing NYS Law, such as Campaign Finance
Law, and recommend improvements so public corruption would be easier to identify, target and try in a
court of law. The Commission comprised of three co-chairs and twenty-two members. As stated earlier, the
Commission was labeled as being independent of any political meddling, so they would be untouchable.
Better on Paper than in Reality
Photo Courtesy of the New York Times
Throughout the short life of this Commission, rumors of meddling by Governor Cuomo began
to surface. Rumors of the Governor squashing Commission subpoenas, changing their direction
in regards to certain cases, and inally, shutting down the entire Commission. Just eight months
after the Commission was created, it died a premature death.
The New York Times published a scathing investigative article on July 23, 2014 regarding the
closing of the Commission.
Excerpt from the NY Times article:
“With Albany rocked by a seemingly endless barrage of scandals and arrests, Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo set up a high-powered commission last summer to root out corruption in state politics.
It was barely two months old when its investigators, hunting for violations of campaign-inance
laws, issued a subpoena to a media-buying irm that had placed millions of dollars’ worth of
advertisements for the New York State Democratic Party.
32
In July of 2013 Governor Andrew Michael Cuomo unleashed a “Commission to Investigate Public Corruption”.
The Commission was organized under the Moreland Act and NYS Executive Law 63(B), hence the naming of
the panel, the Moreland Commission. The purpose of this new Commission was to independently investigate
systemic public corruption in New York State.
The elected oficial who was to appoint members of the Commission was NYS Attorney General, Eric
Schneiderman. The Commission would have subpoena powers, and examine witnesses and subjects of
investigation under Oath. They would review the adequacy of existing NYS Law, such as Campaign Finance
Law, and recommend improvements so public corruption would be easier to identify, target and try in a
court of law. The Commission comprised of three co-chairs and twenty-two members. As stated earlier, the
Commission was labeled as being independent of any political meddling, so they would be untouchable.
Better on Paper than in Reality
Photo Courtesy of the New York Times
Throughout the short life of this Commission, rumors of meddling by Governor Cuomo began
to surface. Rumors of the Governor squashing Commission subpoenas, changing their direction
in regards to certain cases, and inally, shutting down the entire Commission. Just eight months
after the Commission was created, it died a premature death.
The New York Times published a scathing investigative article on July 23, 2014 regarding the
closing of the Commission.
Excerpt from the NY Times article:
“With Albany rocked by a seemingly endless barrage of scandals and arrests, Gov. Andrew M.
Cuomo set up a high-powered commission last summer to root out corruption in state politics.
It was barely two months old when its investigators, hunting for violations of campaign-inance
laws, issued a subpoena to a media-buying irm that had placed millions of dollars’ worth of
advertisements for the New York State Democratic Party.
32
