Cuomo Starts State Cleanup Ahead of Time

The lead article in today’s New York Times, “Hevesi is Poised to Plead Guilty in Pension Case,” describes an impending major success for Andrew Cuomo in cleaning up state corruption.

The long-running investigation of ex-comptroller Alan Hevesi’s office seems to be on the verge of obtaining a plea agreement from Mr. Hevesi regarding misuse of New York State’s pension funds. The $125 billion fund was used by members of the comptroller’s office, and it now appears Mr. Hevesi himself, to reward political allies and friends by offering to invest the funds in their chosen instruments. All sorts of malfeasance were involved including kickbacks and manipulation by Mr. Hevesi’s outside political consultant, Hank Morris.

Apparently, a not too subtle attempt was made by Mr. Cuomo to achieve Alan Hevesi’s plea — Andrew Cuomo went after Mr. Hevesi’s sons, Daniel Hevesi and Andrew Hevesi, who were tangentially implicated in the scandal. The timing can not have been coincidental as Mr. Cuomo is starting to feel pressure from Republican nominee, Carl Paladino, in the race for Governor.

So, instead, now Mr. Cuomo is generating favorable headlines about the investigation instead of a political analysis he wishes to avoid. The coming convinction also drives home Mr. Cuomo’s main talking point in his campaign about the need to clean up Albany, when his opponent is claiming that Mr. Cuomo is part of the problem.