Attorney general: Eric Schneiderman


Today’s editorials include our endorsement in the AG’s race:



That means both a government that’s as clean as we can hope, and one that serves citizens well. That takes more than legal expertise. It takes a mind-set that fully appreciates that the job is about far more than the state’s penal law.

Sen. Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, understands that better than his Republican opponent, Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan. He brings the broad view this post demands.

Consider how the two respond on whether they would ever recuse themselves from a case against the state, which the attorney general’s office normally must defend.

Mr. Donovan offers a sensible, law-and-order answer: Attorneys general can’t pick which laws they enforce.

Mr. Schneiderman sees the shades of gray in which New Yorkers really live. He notes that among the cases the attorney general handles are wrongful conviction lawsuits. He plans to establish an “Actual Innocence Unit” to investigate questionable convictions, and not fight to keep people in prison who don’t belong there. That’s the answer of someone concerned with justice.

On corruption, Mr. Donovan does offer a smart new idea: Seeking to further discourage fraud and self-dealing when it comes to legislative pork, he’d require statements from lawmakers attesting that they, their staff and their families have no conflict. Right now, only the grant recipients have to say that. But otherwise, he mostly covers the basics — more disclosure by officials of outside income and potential conflicts, and getting permanent authority for the attorney general to initiate public corruption investigations. It’s a stock position, and it depends heavily on the Legislature or governor.

Mr. Schneiderman says he’d like more power, too, but would also use the AG’s existing powers to investigate business and special interests that buy influence. That’s the smart position whether the Legislature and governor cooperate or not.

Mr. Schneiderman also has a history here that Mr. Donovan does not. Mr. Donovan has not initiated a major public corruption case in his seven years as DA. Mr. Schneiderman led the case to expel his fellow senator, Hiram Monserrate, after his misdemeanor conviction for attacking his girlfriend. He voted against the back-room process that led to the flawed award of the Aqueduct racino contract. He has been an outspoken critic of the Legislature’s inadequate ethics enforcement.

And on wrongdoing in New York’s vast financial sector, Mr. Donovan has distanced himself from the strong enforcement approach that earned Eliot Spitzer the “sheriff of Wall Street” nickname. He praises Wall Street as “the financial backbone of the state.” That’s the position of a politician.

Mr. Schneiderman vows to use the AG’s powers to look into possible wrongdoing behind the financial sector’s 2008 near-collapse, go after those who may have caused multi-billion dollar losses to the state’s pension fund and form a new litigation unit for consumer protection cases. That’s the position of an attorney general.

Mr. Donovan is by no means a bad candidate. But Mr. Schneiderman offers New Yorkers much more — a vision, and a record.

Jay Jochnowitz

3 Responses

  1. Rosemarie Sayvers says:

    That the TU could endorse Schneiderman *after* the IG’s Racino report only goes to show you that some Democrats are going to vote Democrat no matter what (that means YOU, Times Union editorial board). Hats off to the New Era Democrats, who vote their consciences, and not a party line.

    From JJ: Just an FYI to Rosemarie — this was our 1000th published comment. That and fifty cents $1 $1.50 $2 will get you a cup of coffee. But still. Thanks.

  2. J. P. Moore says:

    Great idea. Wouldn’t work in Maine where the state AG perpetrates, then covefrs up the wrongful convictions.

  3. ProDave says:

    The idea that Schneiderman would go after his Senate buddies as AG is wishful thinking. His pursuit of Monseratte was mere political opportunism in an egregious, highly visible case. Schneiderman has been part of the problem for years. Donovan’s sensible “law and order answers” are what we need from an AG.