Independent mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo once again refused to disclose the names of his clients accumulated during his time as a private legal consultant, following a challenge from Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
The exchange took place during a news conference on August 14, just days after Mamdani released a video aimed at linking Cuomo to serious criminal accusations involving Jeffrey Epstein.
Cuomo established his consultancy firm, Innovation Strategies LLC, in 2022 after resigning from his gubernatorial role amid multiple sexual harassment allegations, which he has denied.
In Mamdani’s video, the Queens Assembly member pointed out Cuomo’s connection to Andrew Farkas, a longtime friend who had previously collaborated with Epstein on a marina project.
Cuomo and Farkas worked on a similar venture in Puerto Rico post-resignation, further fueling Mamdani’s claims.
In addition to this controversial link, Mamdani highlighted a report from Bloomberg detailing Cuomo’s advisory role for a cryptocurrency exchange under federal investigation.
He also referenced a Politico report that disclosed Cuomo’s failure to report $2.6 million in nuclear stock options to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board.
During the August 14 news conference, Cuomo addressed reporters and noted that since stepping down, he has engaged in various activities, including podcasts and legal practice.
Cuomo emphasized that none of his clients had any business dealings with city or state governments and that he had not engaged in lobbying.
Despite this assertion, he maintained his position of not revealing his clients, citing attorney-client privilege.
Cuomo stated, “They were private clients, and this is attorney-client privilege.”
His spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, previously dismissed the claims made by Mamdani, asserting that Cuomo did not know Epstein and accusing Mamdani of being desperate.
Azzopardi also defended Cuomo against the allegations regarding the nuclear stock options, clarifying that these had been disclosed by federal regulators for years and that compliance with ethics forms occurred appropriately after the matter was brought to their attention.
He further noted that the marina project involving Cuomo and Farkas did not yield any financial compensation.
In response, Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, expressed concern regarding Cuomo’s undisclosed connections, stating, “We learned Andrew Cuomo advised an offshore illegal crypto exchange and failed to disclose nearly $3 million in nuclear stock options only after investigative journalists uncovered it — what else is he hiding?”
The tension between Cuomo and Mamdani escalated after criticisms arose from Cuomo’s X account, which mocked Mamdani for living in a rent-stabilized apartment while earning a substantial salary as an Assembly member.
Cuomo’s remarks were aimed at branding Mamdani as a hypocrite, particularly given Mamdani’s democratic socialist stance advocating for rent freezes.
The former governor even proposed state legislation linked to Mamdani requiring tenants to allocate 30% of their income towards rent for vacant rent-stabilized units.
Cuomo’s challenges did not go unanswered; Mamdani called for transparency regarding Cuomo’s past actions and questioned his sincerity regarding rent issues.
In defense of himself, Mamdani stated, “I live rent-free in his head,” while accusing Cuomo of manipulating rent-stabilized tenants for political gain.
The ongoing exchange between the two candidates highlights the fierce competition in the lead-up to the mayoral election, suggesting that this rivalry will continue to draw public attention.
image source from：amny
