New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says he has spoken to federal prosecutors regarding the prosecution of his former top aide and eight others involved in an economic development scandal.
The governor says he’s met with federal prosecutors since his former top aide Joe Percoco, a former lobbyist who was a close Cuomo associate, the head of SUNY Polytechnic and six others were charged with bribery, bid rigging and other corruption charges in connection with the governors’ upstate economic development programs.
“I’ve talked to them about the case that they’ve brought,” Cuomo said.
Cuomo says he was not under oath during the conversations, and the talks focused on the prosecutors' “preparation” for the case against Percoco and the others. He also would not rule out the possibly of being called to testify as a witness in the trials.
“I could be, but I haven’t envisioned it and no one has suggested that,” Cuomo said. “It’s up to each defendant to figure out how to put together their own defense and who to call."
In a statement the governor’s Chief of Staff Melissa DeRosa , said “as part of our continuing cooperation, the Governor voluntarily made himself available and shared his knowledge of facts potentially relevant to the case”.
