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Eliot Spitzer
Schumer: ‘No Evidence’ Of Politics In SEC Goldman Suit
Apr 21st - 11:07 am
In case you missed (or couldn’t watch) my interview with Sen. Chuck Schumer on Tuesday’s “Capitol Tonight,” here it is.
At the 6-minute mark, I asked Schumer about an allegation by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer (whom Schumer mulled primarying in the 2006 governor’s race) that there’s “no coincidence” the SEC’s civil lawsuit against Goldman comes just as the Obama administration and congressional Democrats are ramping up efforts to reform Wall Street.
“Let me say, I haven’t seen any evidence to that effect,” Schumer replied. “The SEC is seen as a pretty non-political organization. An investigation like the one they did on Goldman Sachs usually takes years, certainly months.
“And, in fact, as I understand it, they notified Goldman Sachs months ago that they were looking into this. They’re known as nonpolitical, so you’d have to give that the preumption. Now if there’s some evidence to the contrary, it’s serious, and it should be looked at.”
At the end of the interview, which runs just over 10 minutes, the senior senator and I discuss the joys of the Schumwhich, the love of which, he assures me, is not a requirement for those who aspire to work in – or rise up the ladder of – his Senate office.
Siena Poll II: Spitzer, Gillibrand, DiNapoli, Legislature
Apr 19th - 9:34 am
Part II of today’s Siena poll brings some not-so-good news for the rest of the Democratic Party’s statewide ticket, not to mention incumbent state lawmakers and a certain ex-governor who might be looking to make a comeback.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is leading all three of her would-be GOP challengers (former Rep. Joe DioGuardi comes closest to her (27 percent), with Bruce Blakeman right behind (26 percent) and David Malpass at 24 percent).
DioGuardi leads among GOP voters, 24 percent to Blakeman’s 7 percent and Malpass’ 5, but a whopping 65 percent say they’re undecided.
Forty-one percent still say they don’t know enough about the junior senator to have an opinion about her, and 40 percent say they’d prefer the generic “someone else” at the voting booth.
Gillibrand’s best news: Between 82 and 89 percent have no idea who her challengers are, and her toughest competition, former Gov. George Pataki (leading her 47-38) isn’t running.
More >
Cuomo Settles With Quadrangle, Global
Apr 15th - 11:00 am
AG Andrew Cuomo just announced he has reached multimillion-dollar settlements in his ongoing pay-to-play pension fund probe with two investment firms and three unlicensed brokers – including the Quadrangle Group, which used to handle Mayor Bloomberg’s money, and the political consulting firm Global Strategy Group.
According to a press release from Cuomo’s office, Quadrangle will pay $7 million; GKM Newport Generation and Global’s will pay $2 million.
In addition, GKM Newport Generation Capital Services will pay the equivilent of $1.6 million, California lobbying firm Platinum Advisors will pay $500,000; and unlicensed placement agent Kevin McCabe (a former political strategist for ex-NYC Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr.) will pay $715,000.
All parties have agreed to comply with the AG’s Public Pension Fund Reform Code of Conduct.
Cuomo will be joined this morning on a telephone press conference by good government advocates who will add their voices to his call for pension fund reform that would change management of the fund from a sole trusteeship to a board system.
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Marist: New Yorkers Warming To Spitzer Comeback?
Apr 14th - 11:29 am
Today’s Marist poll brings some good news for former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who has ramped his rehabilitation bid into overdrive in recent weeks, finding New Yorkers are thawing on the idea that he might one day re-enter the political arena.
Nearly six in 10 registered voters – 58 percent – say they don’t want Spitzer to run for statewide office this year, but that’s a big improvement from last September, when the number was 69 percent.
That’s not to say more people are in the “go for it” column when it comes to a return to public life for the disgraced former governor.
Just 30 percent said they would like to see Spitzer run for statewide office this year, compared to 27 percent eight months ago. Twelve percent are now in the “unsure” column, compared to 4 percent in the last poll.
“Eliot Spitzer’s political scars remain, although for some New Yorkers, they may have faded a bit,” said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff. “Eventually, voters may go for the idea of Spitzer running for office but not yet.”
Smerlas For Congress?
Apr 14th - 8:31 am
What is it with Western/Central NY and former football players-turned-wannabe pols?
First there was the late former congressman/VP nominee and Bill quarterback Jack Kemp, who passed away in 2009.
Another ex-Bills quarterback, Jim Kelly, flirted with a run for elected office in 2006, but never pulled the trigger.
Tim Green, who played with the Atlanta Falcons and at Syracuse University was personally courted by then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer to challenge Sen. John DeFrancisco in 2008, but ultimately opted out, too.
And now, enter Fred Smerlas.
Smerlas, who played Nose Tackle for the Bills, is mulling a run for Congress against Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter. Smerlas doesn’t live in New York anymore. In fact, he lives in neighboring Massachusetts (there’s no residency rule to run for Congress).
But he does have a radio show that airs here, and that’s where he first broached the topic of his nascent political career.
Last night, there were reports that Smerlas would be chatting with Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Reilich about a possible House run. Reilich subsequently confirmed – both to me and YNN’s Casey Bortnick – that he had spoken with the ex-football great on the phone from his Albany office. (Smerlas was in Boston).
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Cuomo Parts Ways With Darrison
Apr 12th - 12:18 pm
As he ramps up his all-but-announced campaign for governor, AG Andrew Cuomo has severed ties with fundraiser Cindy Darrison as of March, Darrison confirmed.
“They hired up full-time people, and I’m continuing to help; I’m putting together some tables for a Women for Cuomo event,” explained Darrison, who noted she now has no statewide clients – a fact about which she is actually “relieved” because “it has been an emotionally trying two years.”
It has actually been longer than that.
Darrison has been pretty much working non-stop since the Eliot Spitzer days. She raised money for him during the eight years of his tenure in the AG’s office and then in 2006 for his gubernatorial run. She departed Spitzerland not long after his election, but was brought back by Paterson in April 2008 after he ascended to replace Spitzer in the governor’s office.
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