Times Union report: Cuomo staffers did not work on his book voluntarily

ALBANY (WRGB) — The Times Union newspaper is speaking with current and former staffers of Governor Cuomo.

They say their work on his book American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic was from voluntary, as a spokesman for the governor has previously asserted.

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Staffers told the Times Union that book-related assignments were given during the normal workday, and that staffers did not question that they were required to complete these assignments.

They say that was the culture that existed in the Governor’s office.

One former staffer says there was a “clear expectation that we would do political work to help with his campaign and run the governor’s personal errands.”

The Times Union says it has records from the Empire Center for Public Policy and State Comptroller’s Office that shows at least two junior staffers earned substantial overtime in 2020.

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The governor’s office says that overtime was all related to legitimate government business.