New York

Ex-Cuomo Aide, 7 Others Plead Not Guilty in Federal Corruption Case

There are no allegations of wrongdoing against the governor

What to Know

  • An attorney for Joseph Percoco, Cuomo's former executive deputy secretary, says his client is innocent
  • He resigned as Cuomo's executive deputy in 2014 to lead Cuomo's re-election campaign, rejoined the team and quit again in 2015
  • According to state financial disclosures, Percoco made as much as $125,000 by becoming a consultant for COR Development and CHA Consulting

A former top adviser for Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and seven other people have pleaded not guilty to crimes including fraud conspiracy, bribery and extortion in their federal corruption case.

Joseph Percoco and his co-defendants were arraigned Thursday. None of them spoke other than to answer "yes" when asked if they understood the charges and "not guilty" when asked how they plead. 

The case's most serious allegations are against Percoco, formerly Cuomo's executive deputy secretary and one of his most loyal advisers.

A criminal complaint from September alleges Percoco took more than $315,000 in bribes from 2012 through 2016 from Syracuse-based COR Development and Competitive Power Ventures, an energy company looking to build a power plant in the Hudson Valley.

Percoco's attorney has said his client is innocent. 

Cuomo hasn't been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the case.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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