Attorney General and Comptroller To Work Together On Public Integrity Cases (Updated)

Nick Confessore of the New York Times reports that Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Comptroller Tom DiNapoli  will establish a joint task force on public integrity.  This is intended to enable the Attorney General’s prosecutors to work with the Comptroller’s auditors and investigators to on matters such as legislative “member items,” state pensions and government contracts.

This has the potential to significantly expand the Attorney General’s ability and authority to pursue public integrity and corruption cases.

This news also comes just days after the Attorney General announced that he has appointed his first regional public integrity officer for the Rochester region.

Update:  The Attorney General has issued a press release on this agreement, calling it a

“sweeping new initiative that will give the Attorney General the authority to investigate and potentially prosecute any wrongdoing involving government spending, including member items, contracts, and pension fraud”