Cuomo says Wolf, Cuccinelli violated the oath of office and should be investigated

Governor of New York Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoHillicon Valley: Feds Warn Hackers Targeting Critical Infrastructure | Twitter exploring subscription service | Bill would grant subpoena power to DHS cyber agency The Trump administration lifts ban on New Yorkers enrolling in Global Entry program New York legislature bans use of facial recognition technology in schools MORE (D) said Friday that the acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad WolfChad Wolf Federal judge temporarily bars federal officials in Portland from taking action against journalists, while Trump administration observers send a border tactical team to the Seattle Trump administration lifts the ban on New Yorkers enrolling in the Global program Entry MORE and his deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, violated his oaths when residents of his state were banned from participating in “trusted traveler programs.”

The comments come a day after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdrew its decision to prevent New Yorkers from participating in the programs, allowing American travelers to go faster across borders and airport lines. , after state lawmakers passed a law restricting cooperation with federal immigration. application.

Cuomo criticized DHS policy as “political exploitation” and said that Wolf and Cuccinelli “clearly had no basis for doing this”

“It was all political the whole time. It was all exploitation the whole time. And they hurt this state for it. You cannot use the government for political exploitation, ”he said at a press conference. “What they did is illegal. And I think Acting Secretary Wolf and Acting Deputy Cuccinelli violated their oath of office. “

“I think that Mr. Wolf and Mr. Cuccinelli have a possible criminal liability, I think there is civil liability. It was a clear abuse of government power for political ends, “he continued.

Cuomo noted that the policy led to longer lines at New York airports in February and March, as coronavirus cases arrived from Europe and just before the Empire State Building emerged as the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak. .

“They were playing their political games, and they backed the lines of people waiting to go through Customs and Border Patrol in dense areas, in tight spaces waiting in line,” he said. “I think there is civil damage that is due to the state of New York, and we are going to file possible claims for that.”

Cuomo called the speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi says Trump’s decision to reverse the fair housing rule is a “betrayal of our nation’s founding values.” The Trump administration sending a border tactical team to Seattle Trade negotiations must not interrupt internal debate PLUS (D-Calif.), Rep. Jerrold nadlerJerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerTrump threatens to duplicate Portland in other major cities Rand Paul: “There is no place” for the feds “to corner people at will” in Portland House Republican lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19 MORE (DN.Y.), the president of the Judicial Committee of the Chamber, and the Rep. Bennie thompsonFEMA Chief Bennie Gordon Thompson: “We have a long way to go” to have enough PPE Trump threatens to duplicate Portland in other major cities Rand Paul: “There is no place” for the feds “to surround people at will” in Portland MORE (D-Miss.), The chairman of the House National Security Committee, to investigate Wolf and Cuccinelli about the movement.

He also called the Attorney General William BarrBill BarrTrump Says He Would Consider Pardons For Those Involved In The Mueller Hillicon Valley Investigation: Feds Warn Hackers Attacking Critical Infrastructure | Twitter exploring subscription service | Bill would grant subpoena power to DHS cyber agency Democratic senators call for ‘comprehensive and thorough’ review of Fitbit acquisition of Google MORE open a probe but said he didn’t think he would.

Thursday’s revocation of DHS marked the culmination of a months-long dispute with New York that began when the department retaliated against a law passed in December that allowed residents to apply for driver’s licenses without having to prove that they are legally in the United States. . Several other states have similar laws, but New York was the only one left out of travel programs.

Wolf said Thursday that changes in New York law allowing the sharing of Department of Motor Vehicle records between Washington and Albany led DHS to reverse itself.

“We appreciate the exchange of information to [Customs and Border Protection] CBP for the Trust Travel Program, which allows DHS to move forward and begin to process New York residents again under the Trust Travel Program. However, local New York law continues to maintain provisions that undermine the security of the American people and seek to criminalize the exchange of information between law enforcement entities, “Wolf said in a statement.