ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s highest court considered the fate of the state’s newest ethics watchdog. Court of Appeals judges heard arguments Tuesday about the constitutionality of the Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government that stem from a lawsuit by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Lower courts have ruled that the law creating the commission made it too independent from the governor under the terms of the state constitution. Cuomo is fighting an attempt by the commission that could force him to forfeit $5 million he got for writing a book about his administration’s efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
