


Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo is now getting paid to do legal consulting work for clients as a private attorney while in political exile.
“The governor in his legal capacity as a private citizen is a lawyer who does perform legal work,” said Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi.
A licensed lawyer, Cuomo, 65, had served a term as state attorney general and worked in the Manhattan district attorney’s office and in private practice earlier in his life.
He resigned as governor under the threat of impeachment in August 2020 after a slew of women accused him of sexual misconduct. The claims were laid out in a devastating investigative report issued by state Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
Cuomo denied the accusations and later said he regretted stepping down, saying he did so only because he didn’t want to become a “distraction,” not that he did anything wrong.
He also faced other controversies involving his administration’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including accusations that he deliberately hid or low-balled the number of nursing home residents who died from COVID-19 — a claim he disputed.
He was also criticized for publishing a controversial $5 million profit-making memoir about his response to the deadly COVID-19 outbreak.
Cuomo offered no other details about his legal consulting work or who his clients are.
He currently hosts his “As A Matter of Fact” podcast and is working with the National Black Empowerment Action Fund.
But his critics wondered who would hire Cuomo for legal advice.
The fallen powerbroker faces charges in federal court that he touched a female trooper’s stomach and back as well as kissed her on the cheek in 2019 while on duty. He denies the accusations.
“I’m surprised. Who would hire someone as a lawyer who lied about COVID-19 nursing home deaths and gas-lighted families who were grieving,” said Vivian Zayas, co-founder of Voices for Seniors, whose mom, Ana Celia Martinez, died from COVID-19 in 2020.
Cuomo has increased his public appearances this year — particularly delivering speeches at black churches — and has taken shots at President Biden and Gov. Kathy Hochul, his former lieutenant governor and successor, for their handling of the migrant crisis.
Political analysts believe he’s itching to climb back to political relevance and is plotting a comeback.