Cuomo Makes More 2020 Moves, While Federal Probe "Likely to Continue"

Cuomo Makes More 2020 Moves, While Federal Probe “Likely to Continue”

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) is not doing much to hide that he’s running for president. Even though the governor has already said he plans on running for re-election in 2018, it’s crystal clear that is real focus is 2020. Over the weekend, the New York Post reported on Cuomo’s latest presidential step, the hiring of […]

March 13, 2017

Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) is not doing much to hide that he’s running for president. Even though the governor has already said he plans on running for re-election in 2018, it’s crystal clear that is real focus is 2020. Over the weekend, the New York Post reported on Cuomo’s latest presidential step, the hiring of two Florida-based fundraisers, one with ties to Hillary Clinton:

“Gov. Cuomo has hired two Florida fundraisers, a sign he’s building a national network to launch a presidential bid, sources told The Post. The two consultants — one is former Hillary Clinton money man Jon Adrabi — will help plan events and build relationships with Democratic donors in the key swing state, sources said.”

Yet before Cuomo can truly set his sights on a presidential campaign, he must first overcome his potential legal problems. Cuomo’s former top aide is under federal indictment, and while Preet Bharara has been replaced in the U.S. Attorney’s office, the probe into the Cuomo administration is still ongoing. In fact the interim U.S. Attorney, Joon Kim, has played a major part in the questioning of Governor Cuomo last year:

“Mr. Kim has been personally involved in those investigations. The office has convicted both one-time state legislative leaders, brought charges against nine people with close ties to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and is handling its probe of Mr. de Blasio and his aides. Last fall, Mr. Kim was present at the questioning by federal prosecutors of Mr. Cuomo, a Democrat, according to a person familiar with the matter, and he also attended the questioning of Mr. de Blasio by assistant U.S. attorneys in recent weeks.”

Cuomo can make all the hires he wants to with an eye toward 2020, yet as long there’s a lingering federal investigation, he’ll have as much chance of becoming president as Hillary Clinton did.