Source: Politics<\/p>\n
ALBANY, N.Y. \u2014 Andrew Cuomo will not go away.<\/p>\n
Three months after resigning in disgrace, battered by misconduct allegations leveled by nearly a dozen women, the former New York governor continues to make weekly headlines.<\/p>\n
His lawyer is holding press conferences asking for new material to be added to investigations that were already concluded. New pro-Cuomo merchandise<\/a> and affiliated groups<\/a> have popped up online. Public opinion polls keep asking about him. And the Democrat\u2019s remaining advisers haven\u2019t dismissed the idea he could try a political comeback \u2014 and soon.<\/p>\n Even as Albany\u2019s insiders focus on Cuomo’s successor, Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams, they privately continue chattering, worrying, that Cuomo might run for office next year, or at the very least employ his substantial remaining resources to influence critical races in the months to come.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s going to try,\u201d said state Assemblymember Yuh-line Niou (D-Manhattan). \u201cI think he\u2019s going to try a lot of things. He still has a lot of people in power in place \u2014 people who still probably benefit from helping him and are fighting for their political lives. But I do think there\u2019s less and less patience for that.\u201d<\/p>\n The former governor has repeatedly tried to smear the names of women who accused him. In newly released transcripts from state Attorney General Tish James\u2019 investigation of the allegations, former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett said she was frightened by the behavior of the then-governor and his staff after she came forward in the spring to accuse him of “grooming” her for sexual harassment.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes my life really hard and it’s simply unenjoyable that he can just choose to ruin my day because he decides to spew bull—- in the middle of a press conference,\u201d she told investigators<\/a>. \u201cBut also that it is simply damaging to the investigation …. As a witness, that scares me, and that’s all I’ll say.\u201d<\/p>\n On a political level, Cuomo’s post-resignation behavior is an additional hurdle for Democrats as they look to recover from a bad 2021. His presence could scramble the 2022 governor\u2018s race, even if he\u2019s not a candidate, and has left the state Capitol crowd yearning to put the three-term Democrat behind them. <\/p>\n \u201cI think Cuomo was always very aggressive in trying to get his side out of how he feels on issues. But I think, people in the state, we\u2019re ready to move forward, move on,\u201d Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said at an annual gathering of New York’s political class in Puerto Rico, just after Election Day. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of work that needs to be done to get ready for next year, next session, and I think that\u2019s where people are at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n But anyone who has been around New York long enough knows that argument is unlikely to sway Cuomo.<\/p>\n While social media accounts portray a carefree Hamptons angler<\/a> with a new scruffy beard, Cuomo\u2019s now sparse staff, paid out of his large campaign treasury, has pressed on in earnest, promoting allies\u2019 op-eds<\/a>, editorials questioning James\u2019 integrity<\/a> and potential pockets<\/a> of political support. His daughter Michaela urged her Twitter followers to \u201cplease read\u201d<\/a> a Substack article slamming media coverage of Cuomo\u2019s scandals and referring to his resignation as \u201ca manufactured #MeToo-style PR offensive<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n For weeks, his personal attorney, Rita Glavin, has called for the attorney general\u2019s office to release full transcripts of the interviews conducted as part of its investigation earlier this year. When James did so on Wednesday, Glavin said the rollout was “slow-rolling,” “selective” and “disturbing” in light of newer, criminal probes. Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi said redacted portions were aimed at covering up political ties between James’ staff and the women who accused Cuomo.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course we\u2019re not going away until the truth is revealed and we can\u2019t control if some people have guilty consciences or if we are taking up valuable real estate in the heads of others,\u201d Azzopardi said when asked why Cuomo has not gone along with his former colleagues’ requests to move on. \u201cThe AG abused her office and perpetuated a political hit job for her own benefit, which continued … when she selectively released transcripts that redacted conflicts of interest involving her own chief of staff, while also spreading false and salacious hearsay and rumors.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cuomo camp’s attacks have not targeted Hochul or her administration. The remaining few people in Cuomo\u2019s corner \u2014 or those who haven\u2019t completely distanced themselves from guessing his mindset \u2014 say that if Cuomo wants to focus his attention on anyone, it is James, the attorney general he handpicked in 2018 to run on the Democratic ticket he led that year. Her investigation into his conduct sealed his demise, and now she\u2019s running for governor in next year\u2019s primary.<\/p>\n What form any revenge might take remains to be seen, as does what he\u2019ll do with his $18 million in leftover campaign cash. Cuomo told New York Magazine last week<\/a>, \u201cI don\u2019t know what the future holds.\u201d Some former confidants have suggested he could aim<\/a> for his old attorney general post as James exits the office. Others wonder about another campaign for governor.<\/p>\n But running in a primary against James or Hochul \u2014 or even his archnemesis, Bill de Blasio \u2014 would be ludicrous, right? Maybe not.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s nuts and he\u2019s got a vendetta right now,\u201d said a legislative source, speaking anonymously to characterize their view on the often-vindictive governor. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t put it past him.” <\/p>\n Developing what others see as a winning strategy may not necessarily be the point, said Democratic strategist Bruce Gyory.<\/p>\n A Marist College poll last month indicated that Cuomo\u2019s entrance into a Democratic gubernatorial primary could indeed shift some dynamics, particularly if the field expands (as is expected) beyond its two current declared candidates \u2014 Hochul and James.<\/p>\n In a potential three-way race that includes New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who has laid the groundwork for a run<\/a>, Hochul received 44 percent support among registered Democrats, James received 28 percent and Williams received 15 percent. In a hypothetical four-way race in which Cuomo attempted a comeback, Hochul received 36 percent, James received 24 percent, Cuomo received 19 percent and Williams 9 percent. De Blasio, who is seriously exploring a run, would further complicate the dynamics.<\/p>\n Just the perception that Cuomo might run \u2014 and the outcome of such polling \u2014 can influence donors and endorsements, potentially shifting the field, Gyory said. Still, Gyory and strategists are quick to point out the hypothetical ratings can hardly be trusted until the full Democratic field is solidified.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the current polling data, I don\u2019t see a path to victory [for Cuomo], but just because I don\u2019t see it doesn\u2019t mean that they don\u2019t see it,\u201d Gyory said. \u201cAnd clearly the rumors of Cuomo and the potential campaigns for [New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio] and Williams aren\u2019t helpful to James\u2019 candidacy.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, an omnipresent Cuomo forces the current declared Democratic candidates for governor \u2014 Hochul and James, both of whom are tied to his rise and fall \u2014 to continue responding to his news cycle, despite their best efforts to drive attention to their own achievements.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know the answer \u2014 I\u2019m not focused on that,\u201d Hochul said when asked in Puerto Rico about news<\/a> that Cuomo\u2019s court date to answer charges of forcible touching had been moved to January. \u201cThat is independent of my responsibilities as governor. The people of the state want me to focus on doing something for them.\u201d<\/p>\n