Tish Told Cuomo WHAT?
My, how things have changed
Oh, the irony. The woman who once told Andrew Cuomo, “Sexual harassment isn’t part of your job description, and taxpayers aren’t footing the bill,” is now asking those same taxpayers to foot her own legal bill—this time for her defense in a lawsuit accusing her of mortgage fraud.
That’s right. New York Attorney General Letitia James, the state’s top law enforcement officer and self-styled corruption fighter, is now facing her own legal headaches. She’s facing a criminal referral which might indicate she committed numerous instances of mortgage fraud herself.
And so at the last moment, our worthies in Albany slipped into the new budget a $10 million line item designed to pay the legal expenses of any state worker “targeted” by the Trump administration.
Unreal. They don’t even hide it anymore.
Now, there can be little doubt that this was done for, and at the behest of, James. And so, instead of paying her own way, this budding real estate magnate, who by our count owns at least three properties (and possibly more), will have a pot to dip into for the taxpayers to cover her legal defense.
Which raises the obvious question: What happened to "taxpayers aren’t footing the bill" for misconduct?
Let’s rewind. Back in 2021, Andrew Cuomo, under siege from multiple sexual harassment allegations, asked for state-funded legal representation. He cited indemnification laws that allow state officials to be defended by the government for acts done within the scope of their official duties.
James flatly rejected him.
“Sexually harassing young women who work for you is not part of anyone’s job description,” her office said. “Taxpayers should not have to pony up for Andrew Cuomo’s legal bills.” [Spectrum News]
Boom. Cuomo ended up suing her, and in one instance—allegations involving a female state trooper—a judge did rule that the state had to pay his legal bills for now, pending a final determination.
But the principle James laid down was clear: if it’s not work-related, it’s not on the taxpayers.
Fast-forward to 2025, and now Letitia James finds herself accused in a case that has nothing to do with her duties as Attorney General and everything to do with personal real estate transactions. Specifically, she’s accused of lying on mortgage documents—common in mortgage fraud cases, and exactly what she sued Donald Trump for.
It’s not just hypocritical—it’s comically hypocritical. You can’t go on national TV proclaiming “no one is above the law” when it comes to alleged misconduct while in office, then pull the same greasy move when it’s your turn in the hot seat.
Oh, and for those keeping score at home, the cost of Cuomo’s various scandals has already topped $60 million in taxpayer money, including investigations and legal defenses.
And now we may be adding Letitia James to that tab. At this point, New York should just add a “Corruption Fund” to the budget.
Now look—every defendant deserves a legal defense. That’s not the issue. The issue is who should pay for it. If you’re a public official accused of something unrelated to your job, shouldn’t you, like any private citizen, pay for your own lawyers?
According to the 2021 version of Letitia James, the answer was a hard yes.
In 2025? The answer is apparently a hard no.
So how about another “no”?
Governor Hochul, for ONCE in your political life: do the right thing. Veto this disgraceful charade.
Or expect it to weigh on your Governor campaign, if the (expected) indictment of James comes down.
And By The Way….
Who, you may ask, paid for this in Times Square?
Answer: At least in part, the State and City of New York.
Here’s our take:
And if you really want to laugh: read this description of the new statue. It’s like a parody of left psycho-babble.
Even Kamala has never served up such a comical word-salad. And as we all know: that’s the word-salad big leagues.
