New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday announced two attorneys who will lead her office’s investigation into the multiple allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The former acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and the employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark will lead the probe, James said.
They are both independent, legal experts with decades of experience.
There is no question they have the knowledge and background necessary to lead this investigation and provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) March 8, 2021
Kim (pictured above) served as the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan from March 2017 through the beginning of 2018, when he was replaced by Geoffrey Berman. Kim had replaced Preet Bharara in the U.S. attorney job after Bharara was fired by then-President Donald Trump. Prior to his role as acting U.S. attorney, Kim was Bharara’s top deputy.
The former prosecutor has years of experience handling high-profile cases like this one, including the corruption charges the Southern District levied against the former top Cuomo aide Joseph Percoco and the former Democratic speaker of the New York Assembly Sheldon Silver. (Both men are now serving time at the Otisville Federal Correctional Institution.)
Clark has spent decades at her New York firm, Vladeck, Raskin & Clark, and focuses on employment and discrimination cases, including those involvement harassment.
“She has successfully represented plaintiffs in numerous sexual harassment and other employment discrimination cases in the private sector, in education, and in government,” James’ office said in a statement, referring to Clark.
The duo’s team will have subpoena power and the ability to perform depositions, among other work.
“Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark are independent, legal experts who have decades of experience conducting investigations and fighting to uphold the rule of law,” the attorney general said. “There is no question that they both have the knowledge and background necessary to lead this investigation and provide New Yorkers with the answers they deserve.”
The news that Kim and Clark will lead the probe into Cuomo’s behavior follows multiple allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo and calls for the governor’s resignation from some Democrats. The governor has reportedly responded to those calls by stating that the legislature would need to impeach him if they want him gone.
“I was elected by the people of the state. I wasn’t elected by politicians,” the governor said at a press briefing Sunday. “I’m not going to resign because of allegations.”
The appointment of Kim and Clark follows initial attempts by Cuomo to keep the investigation partially out of James’ hands. Ultimately, on March 1, the governor’s office authorized James to select attorneys to conduct an inquiry.
