ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo signed a bill into law that would fund the Democratic-led Legislature’s impeachment investigation assessing multiple allegations of sexual harassment against him, his handling of nursing home deaths related to the coronavirus, and the alleged use of state resources to write his $5.1 million book “American Crisis.”
Cuomo signed the measure into law late Friday, along with a package of bills passed during the final days of the Legislative session.
The new law — backed by top lawmakers State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx) — would permit the Legislature to dip into a $156 million pot reserved for covering costs associated with lawsuits against the state.
The state Assembly has already allocated $250,000 to pay lawyers leading the probe, but critics have blasted the amount as far too low to handle such a widespread investigation that’s expected to extend for several months.
Sources have said Heastie was upset with having to foot the bill through the chamber’s operation budget and has been looking for another way to fund the inquiry.
Should the Assembly draw up articles of impeachment against Cuomo, the process would then move into the state Senate where a trial would be held.
The upper chamber would also be authorized to draw funds from the state’s reserves under the new law.