- The investigators reviewing
sexual harassment claims against Gov.Andrew Cuomo are being paid as much as $750 per hour. - Attorney General
Letitia James hired the independent investigators after several women came forward with allegations Cuomo. - The Daily
News reported that the investigators have wide, sweeping power to conduct the probe freely.
The investigators leading the probe into the numerous sexual harassment allegations against
According to the New York Daily News, which obtained internal documents through FOIA requests, the investigators have wide, sweeping powers to conduct the investigation.
Attorney General Letitia James hired out the independent investigators after several women came forward with allegations that the governor made inappropriate and sexually harassing remarks or advances toward them.
Former Acting US Attorney for New York's Southern District Joon Kim and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark are in charge of spearheading the probe.
Their offices are "authorized to utilize any of its resources as it deems appropriate to carry out" the investigation, the documents say, according to the Daily News.
Both firms have been retained for a period of at least six months, the Daily News reported. But James is able to extend the contracts as she deems necessary.
Their work comes at a hefty cost, documents obtained by the Daily News reveal. Top-level partners working on the investigation receive as much as $750 per hour. Even mid- and lower-level partners are raking in large sums of money to carry out the probe. Mid-level partners, for example, get $575 per hour, and junior-level partners $500. Senior associates will receive $450 per hour and junior associates $325, the Daily News reported.
The investigators will prepare and deliver weekly progress reports to First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. At the end of their investigation, they will produce a written report with all their findings and conclusions, the Daily News reported.
The investigation was prompted in part by state and federal lawmakers coming out in support of one.
Since December, Cuomo has faced several sexual harassment accusations. The first one was from a former aide who in December said she had been sexually harassed by the governor "for years." At the time,
But in February, Boylan broke her silence in a Medium post, said Cuomo had touched her inappropriately and kissed her without her consent.
Cuomo's office has repeatedly denied her claims. "As we said before, Ms. Boylan's claims of inappropriate behavior are quite simply false," press secretary Caitlin Girouard said in a statement.
Since Boylan's accusations surfaced, at least 10 other women have come forward with similar allegations of their own against the governor.