Plugged In @ Hinman Straub

August 8, 2025

What’s Inside

  • Justice Department Subpoenas Office of New York Attorney General
  • Governor Stands with Texas Legislators; Calls for Mid-Decade Redistricting in New York
  • Discovery Law Improvements Taking Effect
  • Governor Underscores Impact of Tariff’s on New Yorkers 
  • In the News
  • Coming Up

Justice Department Subpoenas Office of New York Attorney General

According to reports, the U.S. attorney in Albany has issued two broad subpoenas to Attorney General Letitia James of New York, one related to her office’s civil fraud case that resulted in a half-billion-dollar penalty against President Trump. The second subpoena is reportedly related to another of the office’s cases, against the National Rifle Association (NRA).

While this story is currently developing, Attorney General James’s lawyer, Abbe Lowell, stated the following in response to the subpoenas:  

Weaponizing the Department of Justice to try to punish an elected official for doing her job is an attack on the rule of law and a dangerous escalation by this administration,” he said. “If prosecutors carry out this improper tactic and are genuinely interested in the truth, we are ready and waiting with facts and the law.

Governor Stands with Texas Legislators; Calls for Mid-Decade Redistricting in New York

This week, Texas Democratic legislators traveled to Albany to meet Governor Kathy Hochul after leaving Texas to prevent Governor Greg Abbott from obtaining a quorum needed to pass a controversial redistricting plan, which critics say is designed to strengthen Republican control ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Attending Texas House members were Mihaela Plesa, Lulu Flores, Vikki Goodwin, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, Jolanda Jones, and Suleman Lalani.

Governor Hochul held a press conference with the Texas representatives, which can be watched here.

Senator Gianaris has introduced a constitutional amendment that would authorize the drawing of new congressional lines mid-decade, in the event other states redraw their lines mid-decade. If passed by two separately elected legislatures and ratified by voters, the earliest such redistricting could happen in New York would be for the 2028 general election. The Governor has signaled her support for mid-decade redistricting in New York and changes to the constitution to implement such.

Discovery Law Improvements Taking Effect

This week, Governor Hochul highlighted changes to New York’s Discovery Laws, which took effect on August 7. Passed as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget agreement, amendments to the discovery process will support survivors of domestic violence and other serious crimes, hold perpetrators accountable and safeguard the right to a fair and speedy trial in New York State.

Furthermore, the Governor’s office stated that the Discovery changes will:

  • Require courts to consider the prosecutor’s efforts as a whole and whether any missing material prejudiced the defense, preventing cases from being thrown out over insignificant mistakes;
  • Narrow the scope of the items that must be disclosed and cut out the need to seek certain materials that are irrelevant to the charges against the defendant, allowing prosecutors to better focus on gathering the evidence that really matters;
  • Allow prosecutors to move the case forward after they have exercised good faith and due diligence to obtain discoverable material and disclosed everything they have actually obtained, even if there are items they are waiting on;
  • Protect against manipulation of the speedy trial clock, requiring defense attorneys to bring challenges early in the case and confer with prosecutors to resolve issues and move cases forward quickly; and
  • Streamline protections for sensitive witness information, both to protect witnesses and to facilitate a culture of witnesses feeling empowered to come forward.

Governor Hochul said:

The safety of New Yorkers is my number one priority and this week, reforms that will make our public safety laws stronger go into effect — changes that enable us to better support survivors and close the revolving door of our court system. Our Discovery Laws — some of the strongest for defendants in the country — ensure that our justice system works for both victims and public safety officers, rebalancing the scales of justice in New York.

Governor Underscores Impact of Tariffs on New Yorkers

This week, Governor Hochul’s office published new data detailing the anticipated effects of President Trump’s trade tariffs on New Yorkers. According to the Governor’s analysis, the following breakdown illustrates the impact these tariffs are expected to have across the state:

  • New York State imported $160 billion of goods in 2024. Now, consumers face a new effective tariff rate of about 21 percent on most of these imported goods, according to DOB calculations.
  • Consumers and businesses would need to pay nearly $33 billion in additional import taxes to continue buying the same amount of foreign goods with the tariffs rates announced as of July 30. This is nearly $4,200 in additional federal taxes per household in New York.
  • New York imported $12.5 billion worth of computer and electronic products last year. A study by Yale university projects that prices for these products will go up by more than 18 percent because of tariffs.
  • New York imported $10.8 billion worth of apparel and accessories last year. The same study projects prices will go up by more than 37 percent on everyday items like shoes and clothes, which are predominantly produced outside the United States.

Governor Hochul issued the following statement:

As Trump rings in his August 7 tariff deadline, everyday New Yorkers know today is no cause for celebration. Consumers are bearing the brunt of his reckless and costly trade war, squeezing families’ wallets from the produce section to the back-to-school aisle. In New York, the cost of living is too damn high and I’m doing everything in my power to put money back in your pockets. Instead of working with us, President Trump’s tariffs are only spurring more fiscal chaos and uncertainty.

In The News

City & State NY’s weekly Winners and Losers of this week here.

Hochul, state leaders rally against federal cuts.

New York adult smoking rate falls below 10% for the first time.

Public workshop set for state of New York’s Downtown Albany Strategy.

Andrew Cuomo and Eric Adams are in a high-stakes staring contest.

Hochul embraces gerrymandering in New York.

Resorts World granted key land use approval from state for $5.5B expansion if granted commercial gaming license.

Higher education is an essential ingredient in NY’s secret sauce.

Medicaid reform effort faces an uncertain future.

2 N.Y. House Republicans urge Canadian action to counter wildfires.

Good government groups fire back at Hochul over redistricting after she tells them ‘politics is a political process’.

About 20% of N.Y. schools late to submit cellphone ban plans, says governor’s office.

Energy official says New York likely to fall short of climate goals.

Legal marijuana store owners in jeopardy over state’s mistake.

Trump weighs getting involved in New York City Mayor’s race.

Hochul says N.Y. won’t meet climate law deadline; critics argue she’s got eye on reelection bid.

Kathy Hochul ‘willing’ to consider ‘Raise the Age’ reforms as she takes victory lap on discovery tweaks.

Cuomo tells business leaders that his campaign is on a new path.

Third death reported in Harlem Legionnaires’ disease outbreak.

Candidates line up to fill Jones’ Assembly seat.

‘Wasn’t a mistake’: Ex-OCM chief says Hochul approved cannabis regs under fire.

Four Suffolk legislative incumbents outraised by challengers.

NY Republicans push to preserve $1.8B in Medicaid funding after voting to allow cuts.

Coming Up

The PSC will hold its next meeting on August 14.

The Senate will hold a public hearing to examine the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) transition to a single statewide fiscal intermediary – new date August 21.

‘The Board of Regents will hold their next meetings on September 8 and 9.