BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Political experts say Governor Andrew Cuomo's criticisms of the attorney general's investigators are a defensive move that will effectively give him a cover should the findings of the report paint him in a negative light.
"If he is not vindicated and exonerated, he is, I believe, going to be using that fallback position that this is all political and about an attorney general who has her eyes and ambitions set on becoming governor and is going to use her office to take him down and weaken him and bloody him in preparation for a 2022 primary," political strategist Carl Calabrese said.
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"I think he probably isn't doing himself any favors," Ken Kruly, a blogger for Politics and Stuff, said. "It may be a defensive move on his part and sort of signals he is concerned about how things are playing out. On one hand, he's talking about letting the facts come out and that he's prepared and people will be shocked by the results. On the other hand, he's questioning the credibility of the investigators, it seems to me. I don't think it does any good in the discussion."
Some of Governor Cuomo's top aides have tweeted criticisms of Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into the alleged sexual harassment of multiple women, including current and former aides. The criticisms continued Monday when Cuomo said he is concerned about the independence of the reviewers.
"Is this all happening in a political system? Yes." Cuomo said. "That is undeniable...Look at who the independent investigators are. Do a little history. Go to Google. Google the independent reviewers and tell me what you see."
It is widely believed that the attorney general's investigation is concluding soon because Governor Cuomo was interviewed for hours by investigators on July 17. The report is expected to be a key piece in the impeachment inquiry by the Assembly. The impeachment inquiry is also looking into Governor Cuomo's use of state resources for his book about the pandemic and the alleged manipulation of data on deaths at state-run nursing homes.
"It seems to me that the attorney general's material is coming together sooner than the assembly judiciary committee," Kruly said. "The assembly judiciary committee may be taking some cues from the result of the attorney general's report. That's pure speculation on my part but it seems to me that the assembly thing is moving at a slower pace than the attorney general's work is."
Calabrese said the assembly needs to take into account the attorney general's report because if they don't, they will be seen as running interference for the governor.
"I believe that the political pressure on the Assembly leadership and members of that committee will really ramp up if the attorney general's report comes out before any action and any release of data and information from the Assembly," Calabrese said. "I think this is going to be front-page news when this report is issued and then immediately, people will turn to the assembly and ask what are you going to do?"
Calabrese also believes that if the report effectively exonerates Cuomo of any wrongdoings on sexual harassment, there will still be pressure on lawmakers to "fish or cut bait" on the other investigations.
Judiciary committee Assemblymembers Monica Wallace, Karen McMahon, and Chairman Charles Lavine declined comment through their office. Assemblyman Michael Norris did not return our requests for comment. Last week, Chairman Lavine warned the governor over the "demeaning comments directed at the attorney general."
"It is obvious that attempts to demean the Attorney General serve as well to undermine the investigation and send profoundly negative signals to witnesses," a letter from Lavine to Cuomo reads. "It is critically important to realize that any such comment may merit severe repercussions."