ALBANY, N.Y. _ Gov. Cuomo directed that a probe into the handling by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and the NYPD of the Harvey Weinstein case and other recent sexual assault investigations be suspended because of an ongoing criminal case against the disgraced Hollywood mogul, the Daily News has learned.
"This summer, pursuant to the Governor's office, we temporarily suspended our inquiry to avoid any interference with the District Attorney's ongoing prosecution of Harvey Weinstein," said Attorney General Barbara Underwood spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick. "We remain committed to conducting a comprehensive, fair, and independent review."
Cuomo in March had sent a formal referral to the state attorney general's office to review the decision by Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. in 2015 not to bring a sex abuse case against Weinstein despite NYPD investigators saying there was enough evidence to do so.
At the time, Cuomo said the AG probe wouldn't commence for 45 days so that Vance could wrap up any ongoing Weinstein investigations.
Then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman had been preparing to appoint an outside special deputy to look into the working relationship between Vance's office and the NYPD Special Victims Unit before abruptly resigning in May after allegations surfaced that he physically assaulted four women.
Cuomo's office in late June formally requested that the attorney general review be suspended for six months in order not to interfere with the ongoing criminal case ultimately brought by Vance against Weinstein.
"As we said when the Governor directed the Attorney General to investigate the Manhattan DA's Office, it should not interfere with the DA's ongoing criminal case," said Cuomo spokeswoman Dani Lever. "Given the recent indictment and prosecution of Harvey Weinstein by the District Attorney, the Attorney General's investigation has been postponed for six months (from the end of June)."
Some sources said continuing the AG's review while the criminal case is still pending could provide ammo for Weinstein's criminal defense lawyers.
Meanwhile, the attorney general's office has a lawsuit against Weinstein, his brother and his former company that remains active. The office says its investigation into that matter is ongoing.
