Wheatfield, NY (WBEN) The State Senate's top Republican has sent a letter to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) demanding the Commission immediately hold a meeting for the purpose of formally commencing a full and comprehensive investigation into allegations Governor Cuomo broke the law.
Reports this week said Cuomo used the power of his public office to prioritize COVID testing for his own family members and top inner-circle friends during the height of the COVID pandemic -- at a time when COVID testing resources were extremely limited and in high demand in New York.
"It does not take a stretch of the imagination to see a clear connection between Governor Cuomo using his official position as the head of state government and the unwarranted privileges provided to his own family members and close associates. Obviously, while these actions would be egregious during normal times, they are particularly unconscionable because they occurred early on during the pandemic, at a time when testing was in short supply and high demand," wrote Ortt in the letter.
Ortt specifically cites the Governor's likely violation of provisions of the Public Officers Code of Ethics as set forth in Section 74, paragraphs d, f, h of subdivision 3 of the Public Officers Law. These provisions of the Code of Ethics apply to all government employees, including the Governor himself. "This is no different than a highway superintendent using taxpayer funded gasoline to fuel his family's and friends' vehicles," says Ortt.
Ortt is also calling on the attorney general's office to look in on the matter. "If (JCOPE) doesn't take this up, I don't why the exist at all," says Ortt.
