Newly released emails obtained by the New York Times reveal close ties between New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a former aide-turned-lobbyist who later pleaded guilty to eight felonies.
The emails show that Todd Howe, a key witness in federal corruption cases that brought down two former top Cuomo aides in February, was weighing in on matters pertaining to Cuomo in the lead-up to the 2016 investigation, according to the Times.
The governor's legal team fought hard to prevent the newspaper from obtaining the emails via a Freedom of Information Act request, spending $200,000 on outside counsel after the Times took the issue to court.
Among the 350 pages of emails is one from 2014 sent by Howe to Jim Malatras, who was then the director of state operations, asking him to look into payments owed to two development companies that later proved key to the federal corruption cases.
On another occasion, in 2016, Howe was copied on an email to several top Cuomo administration officials.
The emails illustrate Howe leveraged access to Cuomo's administration to benefit his clients, according to the Times.
Howe has admitted he raised "a considerable amount" of money for Cuomo in 2010, and volunteered for the campaign in 2014, while he worked to get New York state to act in favor of his clients.
http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/402657-newly-released-emails-reveal-close-ties-between-cuomo-and-lobbyist-who
The emails show that Todd Howe, a key witness in federal corruption cases that brought down two former top Cuomo aides in February, was weighing in on matters pertaining to Cuomo in the lead-up to the 2016 investigation, according to the Times.
The governor's legal team fought hard to prevent the newspaper from obtaining the emails via a Freedom of Information Act request, spending $200,000 on outside counsel after the Times took the issue to court.
Among the 350 pages of emails is one from 2014 sent by Howe to Jim Malatras, who was then the director of state operations, asking him to look into payments owed to two development companies that later proved key to the federal corruption cases.
On another occasion, in 2016, Howe was copied on an email to several top Cuomo administration officials.
The emails illustrate Howe leveraged access to Cuomo's administration to benefit his clients, according to the Times.
Howe has admitted he raised "a considerable amount" of money for Cuomo in 2010, and volunteered for the campaign in 2014, while he worked to get New York state to act in favor of his clients.
http://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/402657-newly-released-emails-reveal-close-ties-between-cuomo-and-lobbyist-who
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