Cuomo questions credibility of attorney general's investigators

Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference. David Dee Delgado/Getty images Cuomo questions the credibility of the attorney general's investigatorsALBANY, N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo questions the reliability of the lawyers who are leading the investigation by state Attorney General Tish Jam into several accusations made against him in the recent months.Cuomo stated Monday that the independent investigators were James' outside lawyers. Go to Google and do a little research.Anne Clark and Joon Kim were hired by James to investigate her office. Kim's resume also includes a stint in federal prosecutor. This was where he led the case against Joe Percoco (a Cuomo aide), who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six-years in prison.He was also involved in the investigation into Cuomo's 2014 shuttering of The Moreland Commission To Investigate Public Corruption. This investigation did not lead to any charges.Cuomo stated that he was concerned about the independence of the reviewers. Does this happen in a political system, Cuomo said. It is undeniable.James is investigating allegations of sexual harassment against the governor, as well as other issues.Monday's comments were Cuomo’s most direct comment about James' trustworthiness regarding the imminent report. Although his office spent weeks trying to label it politically motivated, the majority of his attempts were made by his staff.This was also a slight shift in the rhetorical approach his administration took to try and diminish the report. Cuomo didn't directly attack James or her potential gubernatorial ambitions (she never stated that she would run for governor next years, when Cuomo might run for a fourth term), but instead focused on the people she had hired.I believe in New Yorkers, Cuomo said. They are able to understand what reviews mean, who is involved, and how they will get the facts. They will be surprised at the difference between what they've heard and what they actually know. They will be able to see the truth when they have all the facts.Charles Lavine, D-Nassau Assembly Judiciary Chair, who is leading the probe into the governor's houses impeachment, warned Cuomo last week about its attempts to reduce James investigation. He stated that demeaning the Attorney General serves... to undermine investigation and send deeply negative signals to witnesses.The governor's office dismissed the warning and stated that there is a clear distinction between protected speech and actionable retaliation. It is evident that the Chairman does not understand this distinction.Cuomo appeared to describe Monday's Lavines probe with terms that were more friendly than the ones he used to talk about the attorney general.He said that the investigation by the Assembly is more extensive and has a wider mandate. It is also independent.