Gov. Andrew Cuomo Gets $5.1 Million For COVID Book Deal

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s COVID book deal is worth more than $5.1 million, far exceeding the $225,000-a-year governor’s salary, his office said on Monday.

The governor’s office had previously declined to release how much Cuomo made for the book, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

State Attorney General Letitia James’ office is currently looking into whether or not Cuomo misused state resources for the book.

Nonetheless, a spokesman has said that Cuomo’s work for the book was “in compliance with state ethics laws and done on their personal time.”

James’ office is also investigating sexual harassment allegations against the governor, which he has denied.

Cuomo’s office also released the governor’s taxes as well as his state financial disclosure form on Monday.

Rich Azzopardi, Cuomo’s director of communications, said in a statement: “The notable change from year to year is income from American Crisis.”

According to Azzopardi, Cuomo was paid $3.12 million last year, and will be paid $2 million over the next two years: “Net income from the $3,120,000 million payment less expenses and taxes is $1,537,508.”

Cuomo reportedly “donated a third [of the $1.5 million] to the United Way of New York State for state-wide COVID relief and vaccination effort, and is giving the remainder in a trust for his three daughters equally who worked with the Governor during this pandemic and did what he calls ‘tireless and effective work for all New Yorkers’ and gave him ‘the strength and love to make it through the crisis every day,'” said Azzopardi.

Article by Elizabeth Letsou