NEW YORK (AP) — A city councilman is calling on state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo to recuse himself from an investigation into Gov. David Paterson, saying it is a conflict of interest because Cuomo is widely anticipated to run for that office.
Councilman Charles Barron of Brooklyn said Sunday that the state Legislature should appoint a neutral investigator to look into whether the governor, his staff and his state police security detail illegally contacted a woman who had accused one of Paterson's aides in a domestic violence incident.
Cuomo has not declared his candidacy for governor but is widely considered the favorite in the race.
"The attorney general is an undeclared candidate for the governor's office," Barron said. "It is in his best interest for Governor Paterson to step down. He should recuse himself ... He's been running for a while. He is the most active undeclared candidate I've ever seen."
In any investigation, the attorney general can recuse himself and appoint a special prosecutor with the governor's approval when they believe there is a conflict of interest. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that 61 percent of voters prefer an investigation by an independent prosecutor.
Both Cuomo's office and Paterson's office declined comment.
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In this file photo taken Feb. 14, 2010, New York Gov. David Paterson, left, talks with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo at a meeting of the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in Albany, N.Y., Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010. The investigation that could bring down Paterson is being led by Cuomo, the man who is widely considered the favorite to replace him. Tim Roske, File
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