NY ethics board tells former Gov. Cuomo to return book money

NY ethics board tells former Gov. Cuomo to return book money

Gov. Andrew Cuomo takes off his face mask before a news conference in New York on Monday, April 19, 2021. New York’s comptroller has asked the state attorney general’s office to launch a criminal investigation into whether the governor used state resources to write and promote his book on leadership in the COVID-19 pandemic. (Shannon Stapleton/Pool via AP)

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been ordered by New York’s ethics commission to give up the millions of dollars he was paid to write a book about his response to the pandemic. An attorney for Cuomo immediately called the action unconstitutional and promised a fight. Cuomo was directed to turn over proceeds earned from “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic” within 30 days under a resolution approved 12-1 by the Joint Commission on Public Ethics. The order came a month after the commission voted to rescind approval of Cuomo’s $5.1 million book deal. Cuomo resigned in August amid findings he sexually harassed 11 women

Photo: Gov. Andrew Cuomo takes off his face mask before a news conference in New York on Monday, April 19, 2021. c. (Shannon Stapleton/Pool via AP)