Free Republic

State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie has reportedly been canoodling with a lovely lobbyist, and it’s all the talk in Albany — but he is refusing to comment on her and scoffs at the notion of a conflict of interest. The 56-year-old powerful Dem has been in a romantic relationship with 32-year-old Rebecca Lamorte, a lobbyist and communications coordinator for the union Greater New York Laborers-Employers Cooperation & Education Trust, or LECET, since at least November, according to the outlet NY Focus. Heastie got feisty with reporters when asked about the couple Monday morning, bristling at the suggestion he should discuss...

The impeachment inquiry into Governor Andrew Cuomo will not continue after Cuomo leaves office, New York State Assembly speaker Carl Heastie announced Friday. Heastie cited two reasons: First, the investigation was to determine whether Cuomo would remain in office. With Cuomo's pending resignation in less than two weeks, that's no longer an issue. Second, Heastie said New York's constitution may not allow for an impeachment of an official no longer in office. Cuomo announced his resignation Tuesday, about a week after New York Attorney General Letitia James said that an independent investigation found that the governor had sexually harassed 11...

A top New York state Assembly lawmaker announced Friday that the impeachment investigation against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will be suspended following his resignation. “After consulting with Chair Lavine and my majority colleagues, the Assembly will suspend its impeachment investigation upon the governor’s resignation taking effect on August 25,” New York State Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement. “There are two reasons for this decision. First, the purpose of the Assembly Judiciary Committee’s impeachment investigation was to determine whether Governor Cuomo should remain in office. The governor’s resignation answers that directive. Second, we have been advised by...

The Democratic leader of New York’s Senate called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign Sunday amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment and undercounting COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins added her voice to a growing number of Cuomo’s foes and allies who believe the three-term Democrat should step down. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also a Democrat, stopped short of echoing Stewart-Cousins but said in a statement that “it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York.” On Saturday, another woman who worked for...

The New York Assembly moved Monday to establish New York as a sanctuary state, but the measure faces an uncertain future in the state Senate. Assembly Democrats are backing measures that would give the entire state sanctuary status for immigrants.