Equal Treatment?

June 13, 2011

For Immediate Release

Equal Treatment?

By Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz

It's just appalling to see the double standard used by the Office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman when dealing with alleged corruption by elected officials who serve as legislators and his or her donors versus the way he deals with the New York's Governor and his donors.

When an elected official is accused of favoritism in assigning funds to community groups in his or her district or helping a friend who donates to his or her campaign, the office of the Attorney General and the press will immediately call for an investigation and such elected official or community group will be accused of hanky panky.

I read an article today in the New York Daily News written by Kenneth Lovett titled "It’s payback time for Andy." In this article, he reports how Governor Andrew Cuomo "packs judicial screening committees with cronies and big time campaign donors."

I am wondering if this were to happened to another elected official or a community group, would we all would see the Attorney General calling for an immediate investigation which would include copies of all documents and correspondences in boxes with "wheeling and dealing" labels on each box.

I wonder if the same treatment used to go after community groups will be given to the lawyers and lobbyists who have donated close to half a million dollars in campaign contributions to Governor Cuomo.

Or maybe it's just okay for the Governor to do whatever he wants and for everyone to overlook these things when they call Albany corrupt.

I'd really like to know and hope someone will provide me with an answer.