ALBANY, N.Y. _ President Donald Trump has, at best, a questionable grasp on how the justice system operates, according to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The ongoing war of words between the pair, reignited by Trump's recent decision to change his residency from New York to Florida, boiled over Wednesday as Cuomo slammed the commander-in-chief for spinning conspiracy theories.
"In the president's mind, you can interfere with the justice process, with the Justice Department," Cuomo said. "Maybe he does that in Washington. I don't do that in New York. I believe it would be illegal."
The president, dealing with several legal woes in his home state, claimed last week that he and others have left the Empire State because the governor "has weaponized the prosecutors to do his dirty work (and to keep him out of jams)."
A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that Trump can't block the Manhattan District Attorney's office from subpoenaing his accounting business for tax returns and financial records. District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has requested a look at eight years of Trump's tax returns as he probes how the Trump Organization documented hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election.
Attorney General Letitia James has sued the Trump administration over several policy decisions, opened investigations into Trump family businesses and forced the president's nonprofit foundation to shut down.
Trump has repeatedly accused Cuomo of orchestrating the investigations.
"I don't allow the Manhattan DA or the AG to bring a case. That's not how it works," the governor said Wednesday. "They are independently elected officials."
Trump claims he's heading south, not to avoid legal trouble, but because of New York's high taxes and criminal justice reforms, citing a new law that will end cash bail in the state in most cases starting in January.
Cuomo countered by pointing out that Trump buddy Chris Christie instituted a similar statute in New Jersey when he was governor of the Garden State and said he's attempted to play nice with the president.
"I went out of my way numerous times to attempt to work with President Trump," he said. "I went to Washington numerous times and met with President Trump," he said, citing his advocacy for federal help on several large infrastructure projects including the Gateway tunnel and Second Ave. subway. "I sent letters, phone calls, all of that.
"You know what New York got back from Trump? Nothing, nada, goose egg," he added.
