Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C,I-Schoharie) is slamming a decision by the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) to not revoke approval of former Gov. Cuomo’s $5.1 million book deal. The commission voted 7-6 not to rescind the deal’s approval, with the tie being broken by a former staffer of Gov. Cuomo who was appointed to the commission by Gov. Hochul just minutes before the vote took place.

“Today’s vote, swayed by a member appointed to the commission by Gov. Hochul who used to work for Gov. Cuomo, is the most blatant and disgusting example yet of our new governor’s true colors,” said Tague. “It seems ridiculous that after all we’ve been through as a state, she would even choose to appoint someone so close to the previous, corrupt administration. It’s even more horrific that she didn’t ask that newly-appointed individual to recuse themselves from a decision directly related to their former boss. Today’s vote should erase any doubt our new governor is serious about ending corruption and ‘politics as usual’ in Albany, and that is incredibly saddening.”