Taxpayers fork over $800K to lawyers repping Cuomo, top aides in nursing home probe — so far

ALBANY — Taxpayers have shelled out nearly $800,000 to the lawyers representing Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his top aides in their defense against charges that the administration withheld data pertaining to COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes and misused state resources in the production of the governor’s $5.1 million book deal.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s website shows $795,936.88 has been paid to date to the high-powered law firm Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello and Executive Chamber — out of the $2.5 million contract minted between the attorneys and the Executive Chamber. “This is absurd that the governor gets a free, taxpayer-funded defense of the various crimes, that I believe, he committed. Why should the taxpayers be on the hook to defend him for abusing resources?” seethed New York Republican Party Chairman Nick Langworthy.