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Former Governor Andrew Cuomo won a lawsuit Tuesday in which he challenged New York’s defunct JCOPE agency’s attempt to seize his profits from a $5.1 million book deal his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. JCOPE determined that Cuomo improperly used state staff and resources while writing his 2020 memoir, "American Crisis.” they ordered him to surrender his compensation to the state. Albany County Supreme Court Justice Denise Hartman ruled in Favor of Cuomo Tuesday, JCOPE no longer exists & current Governor Kathy Hochul is looking to establish a new ethics commission.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics passed a motion Friday that orders former governor Andrew Cuomo to repay royalties from his book deal. The move is the second time the commission has ordered Cuomo to repay his earnings from the book, “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.” JCOPE gave Cuomo approval to write the book in July 2020, he earned $5.1 million from the book, but an investigation by the State Assembly found that the book was written in part by state employees during their off-hours. Following the investigation, JCOPE rescinded the book’s approval. Cuomo’s team denied the allegations.

State ethics regulators have asked State Attorney General Letitia James to investigate who may have illegally leaked information about a closed-door vote to Governor Cuomo’s office in 2019. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, or JCOPE, voted to refer the matter to Attorney General James for a criminal investigation, if she accepts the referral, they would attempt to figure out who provided Cuomo's office with legally protected information from the ethics panel regarding a complaint against Cuomo's former top aide, Joseph Percoco.

For the 2nd year, New York State has required Governor Cuomo, other statewide elected officials, and members of the Assembly and Senate, to reveal to the public a salary range for their day jobs. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics made the 2013 financial disclosure forms public on its website. Disclosure is required for elected officials, some candidates, state public authority board members and state employees who make an annual salary of more than $90,000. Read more at jcope.ny.gov

The commission in charge of regulating ethics and lobbying in New York government has created a tip line and website for people to report alleged violations by state officials and lobbyists. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics launched the website at jcope.ny.gov. People can also call 1-800-87-ETHICS to report violations, including improper gifts, conflicts of interest, abuse of power and sexual harassment. Staffers from the investigation division of the commission will operate the tip line during business hours.  The commission will also will also distribute posters promoting the tip line and website to state facilities

Governor Cuomo today appointed Daniel Horwitz to serve as the Chair of the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, known as “J-COPE”.   The current Chair, Westchester County DA Janet DiFiore, will resign in order to run for reelection in November.  JCOPE was created as part of Governor Cuomo's ethics reform package passed in 2011 to address the inadequacies in the state's ethics system and to restore public trust in government.