Suozzi Campaign Calls on Spitzer to Recuse Himself From Teachers Union Investigation
Suozzi Campaign Calls on Spitzer to Recuse Himself From Teachers Union Investigation
Suozzi for Governor Campaign Chairman Jay Jacobs issued the following statement today urging Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to recuse himself from the investigation he is leading into the business dealings of the state teachers union.
"It was recently reported that Eliot Spitzer's campaign for governor had postponed a public event to announce the endorsement of the New York York State United Teachers, with Mr. Spitzer's spokesman saying it wouldn't be appropriate for the Attorney General and the union to meet at this time because of an ongoing matter.'
"What the Spitzer campaign neglected to mention was that the relevant matter' was an investigation into how union leaders are alleged to have violated their fiduciary duties by not disclosing that an investment company paid the union $3 million a year to peddle financial services to teachers across the state.
"In addition, the spokesperson failed to mention that the union has previously endorsed Eliot Spitzer in his candidacy for Attorney General and contributed more than $65,000 to his campaigns. In fact, the NYSUT is one of the largest union contributors to Eliot's campaign.
"All of this raises an obvious question: If it's inappropriate for Eliot Spitzer to be negotiating the endorsement of a special interest group he is investigating, isn't it every bit as inappropriate for him to be negotiating a legal settlement with that same group at the same time, as some news reports have suggested he is doing? How can the public trust Eliot to be impartial when he is literally talking out of both sides of his mouth this way?
"The answer here is every bit as obvious. There is not just the appearance of a conflict of interest with Eliot leading this investigation, but an inherent conflict of interest in this case, one might call it a conflict of special interest.
"As a result, it is incumbent on the Attorney General to formally recuse himself from this investigation and turn over responsibility for it to a special prosecutor outside of his office. That is the only way to ensure that this investigation of Eliot's supporters is truly independent, that it will be based on the facts and the evidence and not on political considerations. And it's the only way to assure the people of New York - as well as the state's hard working teachers and retirees - that the outcome will be determined on the merits and that justice will be done.
"Eliot claims he wants to clean up Albany and change the way our state government does business. Here is a perfect chance to put his ethics where his mouth is.
http://tomsuozzi.com/announcements/pr_051706/