Andrew Cuomo hires criminal lawyer to represent governor's office as scandal over Moreland...

Andrew Cuomo hires criminal lawyer to represent governor's office as scandal over Moreland anti-corruption commission grows: sources

KENNETH LOVETT

ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo has lawyered up in response to the growing scandal over the way he handled his anti-corruption commission, the Daily News has learned.

Cuomo hired prominent white-collar criminal defense lawyer Elkan Abramowitz in May to represent the governor’s office in U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s probe into the administration’s dealings with the Moreland Commission, sources told The News.

Cuomo’s top aides, Secretary to the Governor Larry Schwartz and counsel Mylan Denerstein, have also hired their own personal attorneys, the sources said. Cuomo separately has sought advice from several lawyers, the sources said.

Abramowitz confirmed to The News, which first broke the story on nydailynews.com, that he was hired to represent the executive chamber. He said he is serving in much the same role Denerstein might have filled if she wasn’t a potential witness in Bharara’s probe. Denerstein, who is leaving the administration soon, is scheduled to meet with Bharara’s investigators sometime this month.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/preet-bharara-threatens-cuomo-new-probe-article-1.1887193