Free Republic

Embattled governor Andrew Cuomo (D., N.Y.) has retained the services of a high-powered criminal defense attorney who defended Harvey Weinstein and Woody Allen against allegations of sexual assault. Elkan Abramowitz, a former federal prosecutor with close ties to Manhattan district attorney Cy Vance, will serve as legal counsel to the governor and his top aides, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. New York attorney general Letitia James is investigating the Cuomo administration on several fronts. Three women have now accused the governor of sexual harassment. Allegations include unwanted kissing and touching, as well as inappropriate or suggestive comments, such as...

A lawyer for American Media Inc. pushed back at Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ claim that the parent company of the National Enquirer threatened to expose nude selfies and bawdy text messages he exchanged with his mistress. “It absolutely is not extortion and not blackmail,” Elkan Abramowitz said on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday. “That is not extortion because all that AMI wanted was the truth.” He said the information about Bezos and former TV anchor Lauren Sanchez came from a “reliable source.” “Bezos and Ms. Sanchez knew who the source was,” Abramowitz said. “Any investigator who was going to investigate this...