The New York Assembly Judiciary Committee's wide-ranging investigation into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a variety of controversies that faced his office over the last year could wrap up its work by Oct. 1, a lawmaker who sits on the panel said Wednesday.
A report by the panel, originally charged with an impeachment investigation of Cuomo, is expected to be made public soon after, said Republican Assemblywoman Majorie Byrnes.
"If it has half of what I've read, you should be interested in reading it," she said of the forthcoming report.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie last month initially announced the panel's investigation would be suspended as a range of criminal probes into the former governor's alleged actions were being conducted. But Heastie reversed course days later after an outcry from Democrats and Republicans alike, including those who sit on the Judiciary Committee.
While an impeachment proceeding for Cuomo, who resigned last month, is unlikely, lawmakers want to issue a report on par with the one released by Attorney General Letitia James' office. The report, detailing allegations of sexual harassment by 11 women leveled against Cuomo as well as efforts by the governor's staff to undermine the claims of one of the women, led to Cuomo's resignation within a matter of weeks.
The Assembly's investigation drew in a variety of scandals that have dogged Cuomo, including allegations of sexual harassment, the tabulation and reporting of nursing home fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic, the alleged use of government resources to help him write a memoir about the public health crisis and the construction of the replacement project for the Tappan Zee Bridge.
Assemblyman Michael Montesano, the top Republican on the committee, last month in a Capital Tonight interview said there was information gathered by the panel that showed vioations of the public officers law.
Assembly lawmakers on the committee on Aug. 17 were given access to documents gathered by investigators working for James' office, as well as by the outside law firm hired by the chamber earlier this year to assist with the investigation.
"My understanding right now is they are going to continue to make sure it's a thorough and complete investigation," Byrnes said. "Hopefully when the report is issued it will be complete and thorough so that everybody in the state knows exactly what went on and who, if anybody, bears culpability."
At this point, lawmakers do not expect more subpoenas as part of their investigation will be issued.
"I would expect that within a week or two, any of the leg work for lack of a better expression is completed and my understanding and my expectation is by Oct. 1, this should be wrapped up and the report should be released to the public," Byrnes said.
The Assembly investigation is just one of many probes facing the former governor.
Federal investigators in Brooklyn have reportedly launched a criminal investigation into how Cuomo's office repoted nursing home fatality data. James' office is investigating the use of government resources for the book, which had led to a $5.1 million publishing contract.
And the Albany County Sheriff's Office in August began a criminal investigation into allegation by Brittany Commisso the former governor inappropriately touched her at the Executive Mansion.
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing.