Andrew Cuomo’s Pledge on Conflict of Interest

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo has committed to recusing himself from potential conflicts of interest related to his legal consulting business, should he be elected. Despite this promise, Cuomo has not disclosed his client list, leaving his pledge unverifiable and raising concerns about transparency.

Concerns Over Transparency and Ethics

As the former governor of New York, Cuomo is no stranger to the complexities of managing a large government entity. His refusal to reveal his clients, however, has sparked criticism from various ethics watchdogs. Susan Lerner, the head of Common Cause New York, emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “This is simple: Candidate Cuomo should disclose who his clients were and say how he will recuse himself should he win.”

In 2024, Cuomo reported earning over $500,000 from his firm, Innovation Strategies, placing him in the highest income bracket reported to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board. However, the board does not require the disclosure of individual clients, which complicates the public’s ability to assess potential conflicts of interest.

Cuomo’s Team Responds

Despite the calls for transparency, Cuomo’s spokesperson, Richard Azzopardi, stated that the former governor has not represented any clients before New York City or state agencies since leaving office. Azzopardi assured that if elected, Cuomo would collaborate with the conflicts board to address any issues that might arise, promising to provide a list of former clients to the board for review.

Historical Context and Irony

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The situation is somewhat ironic given Cuomo’s past actions regarding transparency in government. More than a decade ago, as governor, Cuomo advocated for state officials to disclose their private clients to enhance government accountability. He signed an ethics package in 2011 that required Albany lawmakers to list clients with business before the state and expanded these rules in 2015.

“This new level of disclosure and transparency will go a long way towards restoring the public trust,” Cuomo stated after the 2015 ethics laws were passed. “The more trust, the more credibility.”

Comparison to Previous Cases

The dilemma of handling former legal clients is not new to New York City politics. Mayor Eric Adams’ first chief of staff, Frank Carone, faced similar scrutiny and pledged to recuse himself from matters involving former clients, though this too was met with calls for a more standardized process.

John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany, pointed out the necessity of transparency given the history of pay-to-play scandals at City Hall. He suggested that revealing the industries Cuomo consulted for and their compensation would provide clearer insights into potential conflicts of interest.

In conclusion, while Cuomo promises to address conflicts of interest through recusal and cooperation with the Conflicts of Interest Board, his reluctance to disclose client details continues to stir debate over the transparency and integrity of potential city leadership.