Governor Appoints Moreland Act Commission to Investigate Public Corruption

This morning, Gov. Cuomo announced the appointment of a bi-partisan commission to investigate public corruption in state government. The panel, which will have Moreland Act powers to issue subpoenas, includes district attorneys from around the state, among others.

The panel will be co-chaired by Onondaga District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice and Milton Williams, a partner, Vladeck, Waldman, Elias & Engelhard.

The Governor’s Executive Order is here.

According to the announcement, the Commission to Investigate Public Corruption will “probe systemic public corruption and the appearance of such corruption in state government, political campaigns and elections in New York State.”

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that the Commissioners will be appointed as Deputy Attorneys General, “giving the Commission broad-based authority to investigate all matters that ‘involve public peace, public safety, and public justice.’

The Commission will “have the power to subpoena and examine witnesses under oath as well as subpoena any necessary records.” It will issue a preliminary report on its initial findings and recommendations by December 1, 2013.

The Commissioners are:

  • J. Patrick Barrett – CEO of CARPAT Investments
  • Richard Briffault — Columbia Law School
  • Daniel Castleman — Senior Managing Director, FTI Consulting
  • Derek Champagne — Franklin County D.A.
  • Eric Corngold — Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman, LLP
  • Kathleen Hogan — Warren County D.A.
  • Nancy Hoppock — Executive Director, NYU Center on the Administration of Criminal Law.
  • Seymour James, Jr., — Attorney-in-Charge, NYC Legal Aid Society
  • David Javdan — Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
  • Robert Johnson – Bronx D.A.
  • David Jones — President and CEO, Community Service Society of New York
  • Lance Liebman — Columbia Law School; director, American Law Institute
  • Joanne Mahoney — Onondaga County Executive
  • Gerald Mollen — Broome D.A.
  • Makau Mutua — Dean of SUNY Buffalo Law School
  • Benito Romano – partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
  • Frank Sedita III – Erie County D.A.
  • David Soares — Albany County D.A.
  • Kristy Sprague — Essex County D.A.
  • Betty Weinberg Ellerin — senior counsel, Alston & Bird, LLP
  • Peter Zimroth – partner, Arnold & Porter LLP
  • Thomas Zugibe — Rockland County D.A.

Special Advisors to the panel include:

  • Joseph D’Amico — Superintendent of the New York State Police.
  • Ray Kelly – New York City Police Commissioner

Robert Morgenthau, former Manhattan D.A., will serve as special counsel to the Commission.

The Commission Staff includes:

  • Regina Calcaterra — Executive Director
  • Danya Perry — Chief of Investigations
  • Kelly Donovan — Chief Counsel
  • John Amodeo — Legislative Director

Ms. Calcaterra previously served as the Executive Director to the Governor’s Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparedness.