NY lawmakers begin task of replacing disgraced attorney general

New York lawmakers on Tuesday began the task of selecting the state's next attorney general, hours after two-term Democrat Eric Schneiderman's stunning downfall amid allegations that he physically abused four women. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said after a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats who control the chamber that they discussed the protocols of appointing a successor to Schneiderman, but haven't talked about specific candidates.

Lawmakers begin task of replacing disgraced Schneiderman

New York lawmakers on Tuesday began the task of selecting the state's next attorney general, hours after two-term Democrat Eric Schneiderman's stunning downfall amid allegations that he physically abused four women. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said after a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrats who control the chamber that they discussed the protocols of appointing a successor to Schneiderman, but haven't talked about specific candidates.

Attorney general resigns after 4 women accuse him of abuse

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who held himself out as a champion of women and a liberal foil to President Donald Trump, resigned from office after four women accused him of physical violence during intimate encounters. It was a swift and stunning fall for a Democrat who had pledged to use the power of his office to hold others accountable for abusing their power.

Eric Schneiderman, New York’s Attorney General, Resigns Amid Assault Accusations

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who has risen to prominence as an antagonist of the Trump administration and a defender of women's rights, abruptly resigned Monday night, hours after four women accused him of physically assaulting them in an article published by The New Yorker. "It's been my great honor and privilege to serve as attorney general for the people of the State of New York," Schneiderman said in a statement.

N.Y. AG Eric Schneiderman, #MeToo champion accused of violence, resigns

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who positioned himself as a combatant of sexual harassment and abuse in the #MeToo era and a major opponent of President Donald Trump, abruptly announced his resignation Monday after four women accused him of physical violence and illicit drug and alcohol use. Schneiderman, a Democrat, stepped down hours after a New Yorker article was published Monday evening detailing allegations that he repeatedly slapped, choked and degraded women with whom he had been romantic.

Cuomo proposes banning offshore drilling in NY’s waters

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday ramped up his opposition to the Trump administration's proposal to open up new areas for oil and gas drilling, proposing measures that essentially would ban fossil fuel drilling and exploration in the state's waters.

Cuomo reaching out to Suffolk County state Senate candidates

The following is an expanded version of the third item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's print editions: With some Democrats believing Suffolk County party chairman Richard Schaffer is in cahoots with the Republicans, Gov. Cuomo has begun personally reaching out to potential state Senate candidates on Long Island, county Dems and Republicans say. Cuomo has spoken to at least two potential candidates about running for the seats currently held by incumbent Republicans Phil Boyle, of Bay Shore, and Tom Croci, a Sayville Republican who sources say may not seek reelection.

Voters sue Cuomo over race for Slaughter seat

Gov. Andrew Cuomo sued for not declaring special election to replace Louise Slaughter Voters in the district represented by the late Louise Slaughter filed suit in federal court this week. Check out this story on DemocratandChronicle.com: https://on.rocne.ws/2vqwgFz New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo delivers his state of the state address at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2018, in Albany, N.Y. Seven voters in Monroe County filed Tuesday in federal court saying they are being denied their rights to vote for a representative because Gov. Andrew Cuomo did not declare a special election in the 25th Congressional District to replace the late U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter.

Challenge Politicians Living Political Money on the Table in Primaries

Gov. Andrew Cuomo vowed Wednesday to grant voting rights to tens of thousands of paroled felons, arguing that they've paid their debt to society and should have the ability to cast a ballot. Cuomo, a Democrat, signed an executive order that would provide conditional pardons to upward of 35,000 felons who have completed their jail sentence but remain out on parole supervision.

New York’s AG wants power to prosecute pardoned Trump aides

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers to close a loophole in the state's double jeopardy law New York's attorney general on Wednesday asked Governor Andrew Cuomo and state legislators to give him and other local prosecutors power to bring criminal charges against people pardoned by President Donald Trump. In a letter, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman urged Cuomo and legislative leaders to close a loophole in New York's double jeopardy law shielding recipients of presidential pardons from state prosecution.

Cynthia Nixon gets big endorsement as NY Democrats face rupture

The New York Working Families Party, an influential coalition of labor unions and progressive activist groups, voted on Saturday to endorse actress and liberal activist Cynthia Nixon in her primary challenge to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo. After hours of discussion, and in defiance of pleas from state committee members pushing to delay the decision, the party formally broke its uneasy alliance with Cuomo, the two-term governor leading Nixon in one early poll by a 3-to-1 margin.

State Senate breakaway Democrats to rejoin mainline conference

Eight breakaway Senate Democrats that have been aligned with the Republicans since 2011 have agreed to dissolve their independent conference and return to the mainline Democratic conference, a source with knowledge of the plan said Wednesday morning. Under the agreement, which was hashed out during a two-hour meeting on Tuesday with Gov. Cuomo, Rep. Joseph Crowley and influential labor unions, Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeffrey Klein will no longer be co-leader of the chamber.

Nixon may aid N.Y. Senate GOP if backed by Working Families Party

A top Long Island Democratic leader fears actress Cynthia Nixon could hurt the party's chances of capturing the state Senate if she gets the progressive Working Families Party line for governor. Nassau County Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said he's heard from multiple state Senate candidates who say they will consider forgoing the WFP line if Nixon is the gubernatorial candidate.