A long-time ally of Governor Cuomo overseeing New York's vaccine rollout has been phoning county executives, asking if they support the governor amid the allegations of sexual harassment.
The Washington Post reports Larry Schwartz called one Democratic official and asked the executive not to judge the governor until after the Attorney General's probe.
That executive, who requested anonymity, plans to file an ethics complaint against Schwartz.
He's also worried saying anything bad about Cuomo could affect local vaccine distribution.
Schwartz maintains he did nothing wrong in making the calls.
State Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy will be in Rochester today, calling on County Executive Adam Bello to disclose whether he got a call from Schwartz.
Langworthy says the federal government should distribute vaccine directly to counties, and bypass the Cuomo administration.
STATEMENT FROM BETH GARVEY, ACTING COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNOR
"Vaccine distribution in New York is based on objective criteria to ensure it matches eligible populations, ensure equity, and ability to rapidly administer shots in arms. To be clear, Larry's conversations did not bring up vaccine distribution -- he would never link political support to public health decisions. Distorting Larry's role or intentions for headlines maligns a decades-long public servant who has done nothing but volunteer around the clock since March to help New York get through the COVID pandemic. Any suggestion that Larry acted in any way unethically or in any way other than in the best interest of the New Yorkers that he selflessly served is patently false."