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18 ¦ MARCH 22, 2021 NEWS

¦ From DAVIS POLK on PAGE 17
The law firm is now tasked with conducting one
of the most direct threats to Cuomo’s power: An in-
vestigation that could produce findings that bring
about the end of his 10-year tenure as governor.
Yet, the firm’s announcement quickly drew criti-
cism from an attorney representing Charlotte
Bennett, a former Cuomo aide who has accused him Davis Polk & Wardell sign. (Courtesy photo)

of sexual harassment. The Davis Polk team will include Angela Burgess,
Dennis Glazer, who worked at the firm for more Greg Andres and Martine Beamon, according to the
than three decades, is the husband of Chief Judge speaker’s office.
Janet DiFiore and was appointed by Cuomo to serve Beamon became a partner at the law firm in 2004
as chair of the SUNY Purchase College Council. and spent several years as a federal prosecutor in the
“This is an unacceptable conflict of interest,” said Southern District of New York. Her work has in-
Debra Katz, who is representing Bennett, referenc- cluded representing companies and people tied to
ing Glazer’s history with the firm. “The impeachment claims of sexual misconduct, foreign corrupt prac-
investigation must operate free of political influence tices, criminal tax violations and securities fraud,
and must be transparent, detailing for the public the according to her biography.
steps being taken to protect the integrity of their im- Burgess, who started at the law firm in 1995 and
peachment investigation.” became a partner in 2002, is co-chair of the white-
Bennett met with investigators for more than four collar defense and investigations group at the firm,
hours this week in a separate inquiry overseen by according to her biography.
the state attorney general’s office on the sexual ha- Andres served as a member of former special
rassment allegations against Cuomo. counsel Robert Mueller’s team in the Russia inves-
Bennett is committed to working with govern- tigation and was lead trial lawyer in the prosecution
ment inquiries, but Davis Polk’s involvement “gives of Paul Manafort, according to the attorney’s biog-
her pause,” Katz said. raphy.
“I suspect it will have the same effect on other Andres, who has spent more than a decade as a
women who were sexually harassed by the gover- federal prosecutor, focuses on complex civil litiga-
nor,” the attorney said in a statement. tion and white-collar defense.
DiFiore, a Cuomo appointee, has been seen as a A host of state lawmakers are calling for Cuomo
political ally of the governor. The state’s top judge, to step down, along with most of the Democrats in
along with other members of the Court of Appeals New York’s congressional delegation.
and members of the state Senate, would sit on an Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen.
impeachment court that could force him from office Kirsten Gillibrand added their names to that chorus
following an impeachment in the state Assembly. March 12, saying Cuomo has lost the confidence of
A state court spokesman issued a statement say- his governing partners.
ing Davis Polk has many clients and DiFiore was not Despite the pressure on Cuomo, Democrats in the
involved in it being selected for the impeachment state Assembly have yet to signal when there may be
investigation. an impeachment vote.
Davis Polk is expected to work with the Assembly ¦

judiciary committee and committee chair Charles Ryan Tarinelli is a reporter at the New York Law
Lavine, D-Nassau. Journal. He is based at the New York State Capitol
Expressing support for the impeachment investiga- in Albany, New York. He can be reached through
tion, Heastie argued that bringing in Davis Polk would email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter:
give the committee independence and resources. @ryantarinelli.

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