BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - The New York Assembly Judiciary Committee will be issuing subpoenas in their impeachment investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo, Committee Chairman Charles Lavine said Wednesday.
The Assembly's hired law firm, Davis Polk and Wardwell, will also be given commission status, meaning it can take testimony from witnesses under oath.
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Cuomo is under investigation for the alleged sexual harassment of multiple female aides, accusations that his administration knowingly withheld nursing home data, and for improper use of government resources to write a book during the height of the pandemic that netted him millions of dollars.
"Today, the Assembly Judiciary Committee convened in person in Albany and unanimously granted authority to commission its independent counsel to issue subpoenas as necessary in the impeachment inquiry," WNY Assemblyman Michael Norris said in a statement. "Due to the ongoing investigation, I have no further comment at this time."
Messages to Assemblymembers Monica Wallace and Karen McMahon, who are also on the judiciary committee, were not returned.
The committee began an impeachment probe in March and said it would take months to investigate Cuomo. No future committee date was announced.
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, a republican, criticized the committee for not issuing subpoenas sooner.
"The delay in issuing subpoenas seems to underscore the point I have made repeatedly: the Assembly investigation seems to be more focused on buying time for the Governor than truly holding him accountable and getting the answers that New Yorkers deserve," Ortt said in a statement.
A parallel investigation is underway by New York Attorney General Letitia James.