SENATOR BIAGGI ISSUES STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL’S APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER JAMES E. DERING TO CHAIR JCOPE

ALBANY, NY – Today, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the appointments of Commissioner James E. Dering and the Honorable C. Randall Hinrichs to serve on the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE). Commissioner Dering was previously appointed to JCOPE by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and formerly served in the Cuomo administration as general counsel of the Department of Health. 

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi (D-Bronx/Westchester) issued the following statement:

“As Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee, the appointment of Commissioner James E. Dering to serve as the Acting Chair of JCOPE is concerning. Governor Hochul had both an opportunity and responsibility to appoint a new Chair with the qualifications to transform the culture of JCOPE. Rather than fulfilling her promise to prioritize transparency and integrity in government, Governor Hochul’s appointment only maintains the status quo. It is now even more imperative for the Legislature to take matters into our own hands, and pass legislation to completely reform and restructure our state’s system of ethics and oversight.”