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Cuomo, district attorneys show unity in Schneiderman probe

Published  May 10, 2018 5:32pm EDT
Long Island
FOX 5 New York

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L-R: Manhattan DA Cy Vance Jr., Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Nassau DA Madeline Singas, Suffolk DA Tim Sini (Courtesy of Governor's Press Office)

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. are showing some unity after the two traded pointed statements over who should investigate former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who abruptly resigned in the wake of abuse allegations.

Cuomo appointed Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas as a special prosecutor in the probe, superseding Vance's jurisdiction. Vance objected to the move.

But Thursday, the two buried the hatchet and appeared with Singas and Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy Sini at a news conference to speak about the investigation.

"The charges can range from violations such as harassment through assaults through sexual assaults through kidnapping through obstruction of breathing, strangulation," Singas said, citing possible charges that Schneiderman could face depending on what her investigation finds. "I've assembled a team of extremely talented prosecutors who collectively have more than 125 years of experience in these matters."

Cuomo appointed Singas on Tuesday after Vance's office had already begun work.

"We did open an investigation that lasted about 12 hours and we issued a number of subpoenas," Vance said. He agreed to hand that work over to Singas.

Cuomo appointed Singas because the attorney general's office is looking into the Manhattan DA's handling of the Harvey Weinstein case.

"Perceptions matter," Cuomo said. "And I don't want any perception of a conflict of interest."

"The process is important but justice for victims of crime in Manhattan is my top priority," Vance said. "And it always will be."

The New Yorker published a story Monday that featured four women accusing Schneiderman of slapping, choking, and threatening them between 2013 and 2017 in Manhattan and the Hamptons. Suffolk DA Sini is helping Singas with the Hamptons allegations.

"I've asked her to leave no stone unturned, to look at all of the allegations that were in the article that first exposed the matter, but also to do an independent investigation."

As the special prosecutor's investigation into Schneiderman and the attorney general's office gets underway, the state legislature has begun the process of picking a new attorney general. Lawmakers are taking applications and will interview candidates in Albany on Tuesday.