ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Democratic New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has defeated the former chief of staff for the state's last Republican governor to hold onto his job as the state's top lawyer.
Schneiderman campaigned on negotiating record multibillion-dollar settlements from the banks that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis and prosecuted dozens of state officials and contractors for fraud and other crimes.
John Cahill would have had to forgo higher pay as a Manhattan lawyer, consultant and bank board member. His proposals included a new division to address sexual assault and domestic violence.
The office has a staff of 664 attorneys and a $224 million budget. It defends New York against lawsuits, pursues civil claims, oversees charities, investigates consumer complaints, directs the state Organized Crime Task Force and prosecutes.