Tish Jame's federal indictment likely was welcomed by Cuomo -- UPDATED with Cuomo statement

                                                                             


 

 

Democrat New York Attorney General Letitia James and most of the news media are accusing Republican President Donald Trump of political retribution in yesterday's federal indictment of James on bank fraud charges.

Prosecutors contend James purchased a second home in Norfolk, Va. in August 2020 and then leased it to tenants after telling the mortgage bank that she would use it as a second residence, which carries better terms than a rental property. The move allegedly saved her $19,000, the New York Post reports.

James denies the charges and accused Trump of instigating the indictment.

"These charges are baseless, and the president’s own public statements make clear that his only goal is political retribution at any cost," James said in a video statement.

James doesn't explain why Trump would want political retribution; she doesn't mention that she conducted an unrelenting investigation of Trump after promising to find something - anything -- to charge him with during her campaign for  New York's Attorney General in 2018.

"Oh we're definitely going to sue him," James said on the stump. "I believe the president of the United States can be indicted for criminal offenses."

And she did indict him on multiple counts of mortgage fraud by inflating the value of his real estate holdings -- a common practice among commercial real estate owners who inflate or deflate the estimated value of their properties depending on whether they are seeking loans or tax breaks.

Trump denied wrongdoing but was found guilty by a New York City judge in a non-jury trial. A state appeals court recently threw out an enormous fine imposed by the lower court judge though the charges still stand.

But now James is in the hot seat.

Is she guilty? It really doesn't matter. The process is the punishment.

And there likely is one high-level Democrat who is enjoying her predicament:  former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.


Tish James took him out as governor four years ago.

First she issued a shocking report in early 2021 that alleged Cuomo had under-counted covid nursing home deaths by as much as 50 percent. Cuomo had been widely criticized for issuing a directive ordering hospitals to transfer covid-infected senior citizens into nursing home, whose residents were the most susceptible to the virus. Amid mounting criticism, Cuomo quickly reversed the order but the damage was already done.

Then in August, 2021, James issued another devastating report that accused Cuomo of violating state and federal laws by sexually harassing at least 11 women, including current and former staffers. He denied any wrongdoing.

Mounting furor over the harassment allegations forced Cuomo to resign in Aug. 2021 -- even though most of his actions seemed no different than those of many Italian Americans of his generation: kissing women on their cheeks, putting his hand on their backs while guiding them through open doors.

State and federal prosecutors declined to indict him. 

Now the situations appear reversed.

Yet Cuomo has not issued any jubilant statements about James's predicament; in fact he has remained uncharacteristically silent.

Why?

Political insiders point out that Cuomo is seeking to become New York City's mayor. 

Right now Cuomo doesn't need any controversy as he slowly eats into the lead of Democratic socialist Zohran Mandani.

And attacking Tish James, a African American, will hurt his chances with black voters, who traditionally have supported Cuomo. 

Update:

Cuomo issued a statement that justice essentially needs to be blind, not partisan. He did not mention Tish James. Or Donald Trump.

 Here it is:

                   

In a democracy, the rule of law must be sacred - impartial, objective, and above politics. When the law is weaponized or manipulated to advance political agendas, it erodes public trust and weakens the very foundation of justice. Whether it comes from the right or the left, from prosecutors or politicians, the politicization of law enforcement is dangerous and corrosive. We must restore faith in fairness, facts, and due process - because once justice becomes partisan, everyone loses.

 

 

 

 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two new district judges and a Surrogate Court switch

Image
Two new District Court judges are expected to be appointed by the Nassau legislature this month while  a new Nassau Surrogate will take office next January. All are considered competent lawyers, but of course politics play a part in the moves. James Saladino, a Suffolk District Court judge, has been recommended by Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman to be appointed a judge in Nassau's 4th District Court, which covers Oyster Bay and Glen Cove. James Saladino is the brother of Republican Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino and is the son of a late Republican Supreme Court Justice Joseph J. Saladino. James Saladino, who served in various Suffolk legal position, must have moved into Nassau. Also recommended for appointment is Maria Boultadakis to Nassau's 2nd District Court in Hempstead. A law clerk for three successive Republican Supreme Court justices,  Boudtadakis is the daughter of Nick Boudtakakis, owner of the Sands Castle in Franklin Square. The restaurant and caterin...
Read more

Clavin to become a judge?

Image
Don Clavin                                                                                       Both sides of the political aisle were buzzing last week about a "secret" plan to move Republican Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin from town hall to a Nassau courthouse. The only disagreement among the politicos was whether Clavin, a lawyer from Garden City, would be moved to the County Court or Supreme Court bench. One rumor suggests both. It's very confusing.  It rests on the election calendar. Tomorrow, April 7 is the last day to accept or decline a nomination. April 11 is the last day to fill a vacancy. April 15 is the last day to authorize a substitution,. So Clavin would have to decline his nomination for re-election in November to his town job and accept a courthou...
Read more

Nassau CSEA contract deal -- talk of the county for two days -- finally announced (UPDATED)

Image
Talk around Nassau County for the past two days has been that Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman had struck a new labor agreement, signed Monday, with the county's largest union, the Nassau Civil Service Employees Association. The CSEA, which include most non-law enforcement county employees, has been working without a contract since the end of 2017. As of June, there were 3,359 fulltime CSEA members. An announcement went out late today but it didn't say much: A spokesman for Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman did not respond to an email today asking when the CSEA deal would be announced. Everyone is looking at the CSEA because exempt employees -- county workers who are hired and fired at will -- traditionally are given the same benefits as the union members. But the exempts are not happy with some of the rumors about the agreement: one is that the CSEA will take a lesser health insurance plan in return for an upfront payment, perhaps of $1,500, for each member....
Read more