Ethics board says Cuomo must turn over $5 million from his pandemic book

(Image credit: Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

published 14 December 2021

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has been ordered to return the $5.1 million in proceeds from his book about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics on Tuesday directed Cuomo to turn over the money to the state attorney general's office within 30 days, The New York Times reports.

The former governor, who resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment, released the book American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic in October 2020, and he has been accused of misusing state resources to write it. Last month, a report released by New York's Assembly Judiciary Committee found that he "utilized state resources and property, including work by executive chamber staff, to write, publish, and promote" the book. Cuomo has said that those who worked on the book did so on a volunteer basis.

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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.

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