ENDWELL, NY (WSKG) — New York Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-123) said she has full confidence in the impeachment investigation her chamber is conducting into Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The assembly left Albany last week, three months after the impeachment proceeding started. Most of the investigation's proceedings have taken place behind closed doors, and critics have accused the judiciary committee and other legislative leaders of slowing down its pace while the governor tries to shore up support.
"There are a lot of things that are being looked at. So I'd just as soon get it right, but any charges or implications that somehow this is being slow walked, I can categorically deny that,” Lupardo told WSKG, hours after leaving Albany on Friday.
Lupardo chairs the assembly's agriculture committee and has not publicly called for Cuomo’s resignation.
Lupardo also said she agreed with state leadership’s decision not to advance a piece of criminal justice legislation deemed the “Clean Slate” bill in the final days of the session.
The legislation would automatically expunge most misdemeanors after an individual has completed parole. According to advocates, it would remove barriers to employment and housing for formerly incarcerated people.
The Democrat-held legislature was generally in support, but it fell apart at the last minute after what legislative leaders called “technical” issues.
"If we did this, and it's perfectly understandable why we would, but again the devil is in the details so we'll see if we get called back with an agreement. If not, it will be taken up next year,” Lupardo said.
Both houses of the legislaturemay come back in special sessions later this year to approve nominations. It’s possible the Clean Slate bill and other legislative items could come up at that time.
The legislature did pass a change to the state’s parole system that would prevent people on parole from being sent back to prison for minor violations. Lupardo co-sponsored the bill.