There is no accountability without an independent investigation. No state entity is independent of @NYGovCuomo.

@TishJames can’t even technically hire staff without @NYS_DOB approval. This is run by a staffer appointed by Cuomo and loyal to him, Rob Mujica.

There is literally no independent entity beyond the reach of @NYGovCuomo and @melissadderosa. They have set the state up this way, reinforcing their own power structure and control.

The investigation must be completely independent of the state.

All relevant state agencies should ensure that their general counsels are retaining records, regardless of whatever directives they receive from governor’s chambers. This includes ignoring directives from special counsels embedded in agencies by @LindaLacewell like @GarethRhodes

As a reminder, most power structures are staffed by people exclusively chosen for their loyalty to this governor such as SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, @MTA board members Larry Schwartz, Rob Mujica, @LindaLacewell. JCOPE (state ethics panel) is appointed largely by @NYGovCuomo

Another group which should be engaged in this investigation would be the State Police security detail of @NYGovCuomo and @melissadderosa. Based on my own experience, they many time witness the actions and ethics of this governor and his most powerful staffer.

Of course, all state police in such sensitive positions could see their careers made or broken by the governor.

It would be the job of an independent investigation to sort this out.

But my own experience tells me, they’ve seen a lot.

This is not a question. But a fact.

And our state legislators just gave @NYGovCuomo extraordinary powers in the pandemic. This will also need to be sorted out in the independent investigation.

Journalist FOIL requests of “second floor” aka @NYGovCuomo staffers will yield nothing. They are told to “cleanse” their email boxes regularly. And when they delete emails it is gone forever unlike agencies and public authorities which have legal records retention policies.

Similarly, @NYGovCuomo staffers “self certify” their phone records in response to foil record discovery. I remember @JohnMaggiore6 would go through his own reams of paper that translated to phone data records and that was the extent of it. No external checks and balances.

There is no balance of power. There is one man and orbits of fear around him.

I’ll bend another wall. The most powerful lobbyist in Albany is @melissadderosa dad. Staffers always knew they had to take his calls. And his calls and his projects were always ridiculous outliers. Things that should not get done.

The Ferris Wheel, etc.