Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy

on Kathy Hochul’s Secret Lobbyist Meetings

December 27, 2021

Chairman Nick Langworthy released the following statement in light of news reports that Governor Kathy Hochul has disclosed no meetings with lobbyists in the four months since she’s been Governor, despite being directly lobbied over 200 times in September and October alone. A 2011 state law requires the Executive Branch to disclose details of meetings with lobbyists.

“Kathy Hochul is hiding her meetings with powerful lobbyists and special interests, while at the same time breaking fundraising records with their cash to the tune of $10 million in three months. Hochul’s secret meetings are not just unethical and corrupt, they are unlawful. She needs to comply with the law immediately and make the required disclosures of meetings her administration has had with lobbyists. If immediate disclosure is not made, the Legislature and the Albany County District Attorney need to investigate the matter and hold this Governor accountable.

“Every single Governor after George Pataki, all Democrats, have left office in disgrace, so Kathy Hochul has a special responsibility to restore trust and transparency to New York State government. She is failing in that responsibility. New York voters will have to take matters into their own hands and restore trust and transparency to the Executive Branch next November by electing a Republican Governor.

“Ten million dollars and zero meeting disclosures. It’s hard to believe, but Kathy Hochul is turning out to be even more corrupt than her disgraced mentor, Andrew Cuomo.”

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