Hawley urges US attorney to root out corruption in Albany

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley welcomes the U.S. Attorney’s Office to do a full investigation in Albany “to root out the corruption embedded in the Capitol.”

The assemblyman from Batavia made a statement today following Wednesday’s report in the New York Times that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office interfered with the Moreland Commission and prematurely ended the high-powered investigative team. Click here to see the NYT story, “Cuomo’s Office Hobbled Ethics Inquiries by Moreland Commission.”

“Today’s New York Times bombshell about the corruption of the Moreland Commission makes it clear that good government reforms are still desperately needed in Albany,” Hawley said. “These allegations are alarming, and I encourage the U.S. Attorney’s Office to perform a full investigation to root out the corruption embedded in the Capitol. I have sponsored several bills that will help clean up Albany, including the Public Officers Accountability Act, which would strengthen penalties for corruption, bribery, and misuse of campaign funds, and strip the pensions of officials who are convicted on corruption charges. Passing this legislation is a great first step toward making Albany work for the people again.”

Rob Astorino is running with the Republican Party endorsement against Cuomo. Astorino said a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate Cuomo’s involvement in the Moreland Commission.

“This is beyond outrageous,” Astorino told Fred Dicker on his Talk-1300 radio show. “Obviously, it’s criminal.”