Bernadette Hogan and Sam Raskin are reporting for the New York Post New York State Attorney General Letitia [Lah-TISH-ah] James has issued at least one subpoena to the Joint Commission on Public Ethics for all records related to ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo’s $5 million book deal. James is looking for the materials as part of the AG office’s criminal investigation into the matter. Gary Lavine, a Republican-appointed JCOPE commissioner, would not “confirm or deny what the subject of the subpoena is,” but said it was received “several months ago, at the beginning of the summer.” JCOPE in summer 2020 approved Cuomo’s application to receive payment for the memoir. However, critics have called the agency's approval opaque and improper, since it was subject to internal approval by staffers, instead of by a full panel vote. A representative from James’ office declined to comment on the issuance of the subpoena. The investigators are attempting to determine if state resources were used in the production of Cuomo’s book, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic. The criminal probe was first launched in April following a referral from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Pending the outcome of the investigation, Cuomo could be forced to return the royalties earned from the book, according to Sanford Berland, JCOPE’s top official. Read the full story in the New York Post.