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NY Gov. Cuomo set to pocket more than $5M for COVID-19 leadership book
Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

NY Gov. Cuomo set to pocket more than $5M from COVID-19 leadership book

He has reportedly funneled most proceeds received so far to his daughters' trust fund

Scandal-plagued New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is set to make $5.1 million from his book, "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons form the Covid-19 Pandemic," and has already pocketed $3.12 million from the deal struck during the thick of the pandemic.

Most of the funds he's received so far have been funneled to his daughters' trust fund.

What are the details?

The New York Times reported the governor disclosed his income from 2020 showing the $3.12 million, and state officials explained that the publisher, Crown, agreed to pay the governor another $2 million over the next two years.

However, the newspaper called the book a "minefield" for Cuomo and Crown, who canceled promotions of the memoir months ago as scandals against the governor grew. The publisher did not immediately respond to The Times' question of whether they would still pay out the remainder of the governor's advance.

The book was published in mid-October "as the public health crisis raged," the New York Post noted, in a deal made by Cuomo "despite his administration being accused of sending COVID-positive patients back into nursing homes." The Cuomo administration was also accused of underreporting fatalities from the facilities over concerns about political fallout, which could also impact book sales.

Cuomo spokesman Richard Azzopardi told the Times that the governor received $1,537,508 in net proceeds after expenses and taxes for the book deal in 2020.

"From that net income, the governor donated a third to the United Way of New York State for statewide Covid relief and vaccination effort, and is giving the remainder in a trust for his three daughters equally," Azzopardi said in a statement.

Anything else?

The Daily Caller reported that "Cuomo's office had previously said the governor would donate a 'significant portion' of his book earnings to a COVID-related charity." Azzopardi did not immediately respond to the outlet's request for explanation on why the majority went to Cuomo's adult daughters.

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) opened an investigation on whether Cuomo used state resources on his book, following reports that staffers from the governor's office assisted in promoting his memoir.

James is also investigating several sexual harassment and misconduct claims against Cuomo, who has refused to step down despite several Republicans and fellow Democrats calling for him to do so.

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