Tuesday’s revelation that the removal investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo would likely take months led another former aide to say he will not cooperate with the state Assembly’s judiciary committee.
Ana Liss told The Post: “As for the Assembly’s investigation, I’m comfortable.”
“I cannot participate with confidence knowing of the controversial ties, lack of transparency, politicization and non-participation on behalf of my fellow accusers whose claims are more blatant / explicit than mine,” he said in an email.
Liss’s statements came after former Cuomo collaborator Lindsey Boylan called the Judicial Committee’s investigation a “farce” last week and accused Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-The Bronx ) to use it as a delay tactic on behalf of the governor.
“Don’t trust @CarlHeastie. His impeachment investigation is not designed to be transparent or move quickly, and there is nothing that @NYGovCuomo wants more than time, ”Boylan tweeted Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for a third prosecutor, Cuomo’s former aide, Charlotte Bennett, told The Post on Tuesday that his client “is committed to cooperating with all appropriate government investigations, including the dismissal investigation.”
But attorney Debra Katz added that “questions remain about the independence” of the impeachment investigation.
Last week, Katz said the Davis Polk & Wardwell law firm, which was hired to assist lawmakers in the investigation, had an “unacceptable conflict of interest” because the judge’s husband in charge of the appellate court, Janet DiFiore, was a partner for more than three decades.
Liss, Boylan and Bennett have already been interviewed by outside lawyers hired by Attorney General Letitia James for an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo.
Earlier Tuesday, Judicial Committee Chairman Charles Lavine (D-Long Island) said the removal investigation would likely take “months instead of weeks” due to “the magnitude and severity of the problems.”
Lavine noted that Heastie “has indicated to us that we examine all credible allegations, including, but not limited to, those involving sexual harassment and assault, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the security of state bridges.
Lavine also said “the key is to include, among other things,” these issues.