In more bad news for New York corrupt politicians, the new State Board of Elections Enforcement Unit has referred seven cases for potential criminal prosecution since its creation almost a year ago.
Some were referred to local district attorneys and others to the state attorney general’s office, said Board of Elections Chief Enforcement Officer Risa Sugarman.
Sugarman did not provide specifics on the cases, but described them as “serious.”
“We look at personal use (of campaign funds),” she said. “We take deep dives into the financial disclosure or the lack of financial disclosure and violations of election law.”
Sugarman indicated there are eight open cases her office is handling in which subpoenas have been issued.
All told, Sugarman said since last September she has asked the four-member Board of Elections for permission to issue subpoenas in 19 cases. Two were rejected and 17 went forward, with Sugarman forced to twice cast a tie-breaking vote.
Of the 17 subpoenas that were issued, seven involved the cases referred for prosecution and two were for probes that were closed without action, she said. That leaves 10 cases Sugarman's unit is still pursuing in which subpoenas were issued.
The enforcement unit, which began its work last September was created amid controversy as part of a 2014 ethics package approved by the Legislature only after Gov. Cuomo agreed to abruptly shut down his anti-corruption Moreland Commission that had been investigating state government corruption.
Sugarman has a staff of 10 that includes two investigators, three lawyers, and two auditors. She plans to add another auditor.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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