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Attorney General's Office

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NY Pet Stores Face Deadline To Halt Sales Of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits NY Pet Stores Face Deadline To Halt Sales Of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits
NY Pet Stores Face Deadline To Halt Sales Of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits Retail pet stores in New York will soon be prohibited from selling dogs, cats, or rabbits under a new state law aimed at ending the abusive practices of puppy mills.  Starting Sunday, Dec. 15, pet stores across the state must cease all sales, leases, or transfers of dogs, cats, and rabbits, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Friday, Nov. 22. James emphasized that the law, known as the Puppy Mill Pipeline Act, is designed to disrupt large-scale breeding operations, often referred to as puppy mills, which have long been criticized for inhumane treatment and poor health …

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by Ben Crnic
News
NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel
NY AG James Urges Social Media Companies To Stop Hateful Content After Attacks In Israel New York Attorney General Letitia James has sent a series of letters to several social media companies urging them to take action and remove hateful content posted in response to the violence taking place in Israel.  The letters, announced by the Attorney General's Office on Friday, Oct. 13, all request that each company provide thorough explanations of how they are stopping the spread of hateful content that encourages violence against Jewish and Muslim people or institutions in the aftermath of violent attacks committed against Israel by the Hamas militant group.  Jame…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Eliminating 'Cycle Of Debt': New NY Law Prohibits Fees On Outstanding Student Loans Eliminating 'Cycle Of Debt': New NY Law Prohibits Fees On Outstanding Student Loans
Eliminating 'Cycle Of Debt': New NY Law Prohibits Fees On Outstanding Student Loans Some financial relief has arrived for those with student loan debt from New York colleges. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new law Thursday, Oct. 13, that prohibits state agencies from charging students an additional fee when collecting outstanding student debt. Under a previous state law, borrowers were charged up to 22 percent in fees on top of the amounts they owed, the governor’s office said. "When students across New York spoke up about the difficulties of digging out of debt, my administration listened," Hochul said in a statement. I’ve signed legislation eliminating additional fees…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Chris Cuomo Used His Sources To Seek Info On Women Who Accused His Brother, AG Report Reveals Chris Cuomo Used His Sources To Seek Info On Women Who Accused His Brother, AG Report Reveals
Chris Cuomo Used His Sources To Seek Info On Women Who Accused His Brother, AG Report Reveals New details are emerging about the measures CNN host Chris Cuomo took while advising his brother, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, amid the sexual harassment allegations that led to his ousting from Albany. The younger Cuomo, who previously acknowledged his role in helping his brother navigate through the scandal, reportedly used his media sources and sway in an effort to undermine the Attorney General’s investigation into the claims and get out ahead of the scandal Earlier story - 'I Was There To Listen': CNN's Chris Cuomo Breaks Silence On Brother's Scandal, Ouster. New documents released …

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper
NY State Police Issue Alert For Phone Scam Where Caller Poses As Trooper New York State Police have issued a warning about a recent phone scam where callers pretend to be state troopers.  Police said many of the calls centered on the Highland area in Ulster County. The callers would pretend to be state troopers and say that charges are pending against the person they called. They would then request money or bank information, police said. "Neither the state police, nor any agency authorized by it, will ever solicit for money or ask for personal information over the phone," State Police said.  Anyone who receives these calls is advised to report detail…

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by Nicole Valinote
Politics
State Senator From Westchester Plans To Run For NY Attorney General State Senator From Westchester Plans To Run For NY Attorney General
State Senator From Westchester Plans To Run For NY Attorney General An elected official from the Hudson Valley is reportedly planning to run for New York Attorney General. Westchester State Sen. Shelley Mayer is expected to announce this week that she is planning her run, replacing current Attorney General Letitia James, who announced that she is running for governor in 2022. Earlier story - 'I'm Running For Governor': NY AG Letitia James Makes It Official Mayer has served in the state Senate since 2018, having previously acted as a state Assemblywoman and inside the state Attorney General’s Office for more than a decade. Other names being floated out the…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Cuomo Files Retirement Paperwork; Here's What His Annual Pension Is Expected To Be Cuomo Files Retirement Paperwork; Here's What His Annual Pension Is Expected To Be
Cuomo Files Retirement Paperwork; Here's What His Annual Pension Is Expected To Be Days before his resignation takes effect, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo officially filed his retirement papers to receive a $50,000 annual lifetime pension, despite being found complicit by the Attorney General’s Office of sexually harassing at least 11 women. “The governor just filed his application for service retirement. The date of retirement is Sept. 1, 2021,” a spokesperson for the state comptroller’s office said this week. Under current state law, neither resignation nor impeachment for Cuomo’s alleged sexual harassment would bar the governor from receiving his lifetime pensio…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
'Coward's Way Out': Cuomo Accuser Calls Out NY Assembly For Failure To Impeach Disgraced Gov 'Coward's Way Out': Cuomo Accuser Calls Out NY Assembly For Failure To Impeach Disgraced Gov
'Coward's Way Out': Cuomo Accuser Calls Out NY Assembly For Failure To Impeach Disgraced Gov One of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s first and most public accusers didn't mince words when it came to the Assembly Judiciary Committee dropping its impeachment inquiry into the embattled lawmaker. Former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett, age 25, a Northern Westchester native, ripped into Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie on Sunday, Aug. 15, following the decision to let the governor off the hook after being found complicit in sexually harassing at least 11 women by the Attorney General's office. “Speaker Carl Heastie’s unilateral decision to end the impeachment investigation into the governor sends…

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by Zak Failla
News
'I'm Ready For This': Hochul Distances Herself From Cuomo, Vows Big Change In Workplace Culture 'I'm Ready For This': Hochul Distances Herself From Cuomo, Vows Big Change In Workplace Culture
'I'm Ready For This': Hochul Distances Herself From Cuomo, Vows Big Change In Workplace Culture One day after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation, his top lieutenant, Kathy Hochul took center stage as she addressed the public for the first time, making a point to distance herself from Cuomo. The 62-year-old governor-in-waiting fielded a barrage of questions on Wednesday, Aug. 11 following a short press briefing in which she promised to hit the ground running, restore faith in state government, and reminded the world that she’s ready to take over for Cuomo when his resignation takes effect. Despite being his lieutenant governor since 2015, Hochul made note that she and…

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by Zak Failla
News
Woman Becomes First Cuomo Accuser To File Criminal Complaint Woman Becomes First Cuomo Accuser To File Criminal Complaint
Woman Becomes First Cuomo Accuser To File Criminal Complaint A former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been the first to file a criminal complaint with law enforcement after she was allegedly sexually harassed and groped in his office. The victim, identified in the Attorney General’s report as “Executive Assistant #1,” filed the complaint with the Albany County Sheriff's Department this week, making her the first of Cuomo’s alleged victims to seek criminal charges. Her name has not been released. “Since approximately late 2019, the governor engaged in a pattern of inappropriate conduct with Executive Assistant #1,” the report states. Among th…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Calls Grow For Cuomo's Resignation Following Release Of NY AG's Sexual Harassment Report Calls Grow For Cuomo's Resignation Following Release Of NY AG's Sexual Harassment Report
Calls Grow For Cuomo's Resignation Following Release Of NY AG's Sexual Harassment Report New York politicians are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following the release of the results of the scathing independent investigation conducted by the Attorney General's Office that found he was a serial sexual harasser. On Tuesday, Aug. 3, New York AG Letitia James released the findings of a five-month independent investigation that found the governor allegedly fostered a toxic workplace environment while also subjecting state employees to unwanted touching and inappropriate dialogue. Earlier story - Cuomo Sexually Harassed 'Multiple Women,' Including State Trooper, Scathing AG…

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by Zak Failla
News
COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent COVID-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent
Covid-19: NY AG Report Says Nursing Home Deaths May Have Been Undercounted By 50 Percent The New York State Department of Health may have undercounted the number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by upwards of 50 percent, according to a new report from the Attorney General’s Office. New York AG Letitia James released the report on her office’s ongoing investigation into nursing homes’ responses ✎ EditSignto the pandemic that was critical of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Department of Health’s initial guidance to admit COVID-19 patients into nursing homes. The investigations also found that nursing homes’ lack of compliance with infection control protocols “put residents at incre…

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by Zak Failla
News
Grand Jury Does Not Indict New Rochelle Police Officer Who Shot, Killed 24-Year-Old Black Man Grand Jury Does Not Indict New Rochelle Police Officer Who Shot, Killed 24-Year-Old Black Man
Grand Jury Does Not Indict New Rochelle Police Officer Who Shot, Killed 24-Year-Old Black Man A New Rochelle police officer who shot and killed a Black man in the city will not be indicted for his death. Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced on Wednesday, Nov. 4, that a Westchester County Grand Jury voted not to indict New Rochelle Police Officer Alec McKenna in the shooting of Kamal Flowers Friday, June 5. “The death of Kamal Flowers was tragic," said Scarpino. "His family and friends have lost a loved one and are devastated by this loss. I am deeply saddened by his death because his life mattered. Any use of deadly force is difficult to …

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by Kathy Reakes
Politics
COVID-19: State's New Hate Crime Hotline Combats Racism COVID-19: State's New Hate Crime Hotline Combats Racism
Covid-19: State's New Hate Crime Hotline Combats Racism With reports rising regarding anti-Asian harassment and prejudice amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, New York's attorney general has launched a hotline to report hate crimes. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began in Wuhan, China and rapidly spread throughout the globe, there has been a rise in reports of xenophobia and racism tied to fears of the virus. In response, Attorney General Letitia James announced this week that she was launching a crime hotline at 1-800-771-7755. Complaints can also be emailed to civil.rights@ag.ny.gov. “Acts of bigoted and hateful behavior will NOT be …

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by Zak Failla
News
Here Are Top 10 Scams To Avoid, NY Attorney General Says Here Are Top 10 Scams To Avoid, NY Attorney General Says
Here Are Top 10 Scams To Avoid, NY Attorney General Says Fraudsters were busy in 2019, going through drastic efforts in an attempt to scam New Yorkers, according to the Attorney General’s Office. New York Attorney Letitia James released a new report of the top 10 consumer fraud complaints that her office received last year, topped by Internet-related schemes. It was the 14th year in a row that Internet-related complaints topped the list. According to James’ office, the top 10 consumer complaints were: Internet-related (4,436 complaints in 2019); Consumer-related (2,659); Automobile (2,510); Landlord/Tenant disputes (1,910); Utilities (1,811)…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
State Cracks Down On Pharmacies Failing To Comply With Drug Pricing Law State Cracks Down On Pharmacies Failing To Comply With Drug Pricing Law
State Cracks Down On Pharmacies Failing To Comply With Drug Pricing Law At least 44 pharmacies failed to post drug prices as required by law, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on Thursday. As a result of the investigation, the Attorney General’s Office sent cease and desist letters to the pharmacies found to be in violation, mandating compliance with consumer protection laws that require that pharmacies maintain a list of their prices for the 150 most commonly prescribed drugs.  Pharmacies in violation of these laws were located in: Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Nassau County, Northern Manhattan, Plattsburgh, Rochester, Suffolk Count…

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by Jon Craig
Politics
City Council Demands Top Mount Vernon City Lawyer Steps Down After Indictment City Council Demands Top Mount Vernon City Lawyer Steps Down After Indictment
City Council Demands Top Mount Vernon City Lawyer Steps Down After Indictment City officials in Mount Vernon are calling on their top attorney to step down after he was indicted for allegedly using Water Department funds to help pay for Mayor Richard Thomas’ criminal defense legal team and hire a public relations firm. Lawrence Porcari Jr., the city’s Corporation Counsel pleaded not guilty in Westchester County Court on Wednesday, May 29, to a felony charge of first-degree corrupting the government. He allegedly was involved in using $365,000 from the city’s water department to assist the mayor. Porcari was also charged with one count of grand larceny as a crime of p…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
People Are Fleeing NY 'Because Of High Taxes And Yes, Even Oppression Of Sorts,' Trump Says People Are Fleeing NY 'Because Of High Taxes And Yes, Even Oppression Of Sorts,' Trump Says
People Are Fleeing NY 'Because Of High Taxes And Yes, Even Oppression Of Sorts,' Trump Says President Donald Trump is accusing the New York Attorney General’s office of illegally investigating the National Rifle Association's finances, alleging that this is part of the reason the state has seen a recent exodus of residents moving away. On Saturday, April 27, New York Attorney General Letitia James' office announced that it had launched an investigation into the NRA and had issued subpoenas to the organization, but did not confirm what the probe was in regard to. "The NRA is under siege by (New York Gov. Andrew) Cuomo and the New York State A.G., who are illegally using the S…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Mount Vernon Mayor Scheduled To Appear In Court For Criminal Case Mount Vernon Mayor Scheduled To Appear In Court For Criminal Case
Mount Vernon Mayor Scheduled To Appear In Court For Criminal Case Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas is scheduled to appear in court for his first appearance since being arraigned in May on charges claiming he stole campaign funds and failed to disclose his use of inaugural funds during his initial run for office. Thomas is due in Westchester County Court on Friday, where he will answer charges that include grand larceny and filing a false instrument after being accused of stealing more than $12,000 from Friends of Richard Thomas, his campaign committee when he ran for mayor three years ago. He is also accused of allegedly failing to report nearly $50,000 t…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
Mount Vernon Mayor Seeks To Have Corruption Indictment Dismissed Mount Vernon Mayor Seeks To Have Corruption Indictment Dismissed
Mount Vernon Mayor Seeks To Have Corruption Indictment Dismissed Embattled Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas is seeking dismissal of an indictment claiming that he stole campaign funds and failed to disclose his use of inaugural funds during his initial run for office. Thomas was arraigned on felony corruption charges on March 12 that included grand larceny and filing a false instrument after being accused of stealing more than $10,000 from his campaign committee and lying about it on finance filing forms. The mayor was scheduled to appear before a Westchester County grand jury last month, but failed to do so. According to a lohud report, Thomas failed t…

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by Zak Failla