Who is Andrew Cuomo?
- 17GEN4
- Oct 23
- 5 min read
Andrew Cuomo (born December 6, 1957) is a longtime New York political heavyweight, serving as the state's 56th Governor from 2011 to 2021. The son of legendary three-term Governor Mario Cuomo, Andrew built a career in public service, including roles as Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development at HUD under President Clinton (1997–2001), New York Attorney General (2007–2010), and briefly as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development again under President Obama. As governor, he championed same-sex marriage legalization (2011), enacted strict gun control after Sandy Hook (2013), and led New York's COVID-19 response—earning early Emmy Awards for his daily briefings but later facing backlash over nursing home death undercounts and allegations of sexual harassment.
His tenure ended in scandal: A 2021 state investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women, leading to his resignation amid impeachment threats. He's since mounted a 2025 comeback as an independent candidate for NYC mayor, polling second behind Democrat Zohran Mamdani (around 25% vs. Mamdani's 35%, per October 2025 Siena polls). His campaign leans on "getting things done" rhetoric, touting infrastructure wins like the new Mario Cuomo Bridge, while critics blast his "toxic" leadership and ethical lapses. Recent endorsements include indicted Mayor Eric Adams, fueling "machine politics" accusations.
Cuomo's Italian-American heritage has long shadowed him with mafia stereotypes, a sensitivity he shares with his late father. He's railed against media portrayals in films like The Godfather, calling them "ugly" and discriminatory, and warned against likening his family to mob tropes.
Alleged Ties to the Mob
Andrew Cuomo's purported "mob connections" are a mix of guilt-by-association rumors, historical whispers about his family, and documented links through political allies—none directly implicating him in criminal activity. No federal probes have charged Cuomo with organized crime involvement; instead, his record includes leading anti-mob efforts as AG. The narrative persists due to New York's gritty political-labor nexus, where construction unions and real estate often intersect with La Cosa Nostra remnants (Gambino, Genovese, Lucchese families). Critics, including ex-mobster Sammy "The Bull" Gravano, have weaponized these rumors, with Gravano claiming Cuomo's COVID policies "killed more people than the Mafia" (a hyperbolic jab, not a literal tie).
Family Rumors (Primarily Mario Cuomo Era)
Much of the smoke traces to Andrew's father, Mario Cuomo (governor 1983–1994), who faced persistent whispers of mob proximity as an Italian-American from Queens. These were largely debunked as ethnic stereotyping, but they linger:
Father-in-Law Charles Raffa: Mario's father-in-law (Andrew's grandfather) was beaten in 1984 outside a Brooklyn supermarket amid arson suspicions. Police found no mob link, but tabloids speculated it was a "hit" over property disputes. Raffa had a dismissed 1974 bribery charge (tips to officials), which Andrew says he learned of from reporters. No charges stuck.
Campaign Contributions: 1985 congressional testimony from Colombo associate Lawrence Iorizzo alleged Mario accepted "tax scam" funds from mobster Michael Franzese. Andrew, then campaign manager, denied knowledge; no evidence emerged, and Franzese was convicted separately on gas-tax fraud.
Law Firm Client: Pre-governorship, Mario's firm represented Lucchese capo Joseph "Joey Narrows" LaRatro (labor racketeering, extortion). Mario called it routine legal work; no impropriety found.
Assassination Plot: In 1992, Sicilian Cosa Nostra planned to kill Mario during an Italy trip to intimidate U.S.-Italy anti-mafia cooperation (post-Falcone/Borsellino hits). Hitman Maurizio Avola confessed in 2016; the plot was scrapped due to heavy security. Andrew was not involved.
These fueled 1987 New York magazine probes and Bill Clinton's 1992 primary jabs likening Mario to "hoodlums." Mario dismissed them as anti-Italian bias, saying "Mafia" evokes stereotypes unfairly.Andrew Cuomo's Direct AssociationsAndrew's orbit includes figures with verified mob links, often via labor or campaign ties:
James Cahill (Union Leader): As governor, Cuomo called Cahill (ex-head of NY Building Trades Council) a "good friend to me and my entire family." In 2020, feds indicted Cahill for bribery, alleging "deep ties" to Gambino capos (e.g., Louis Filippelli) and Serbian gangs like Grupo Amerika. Recordings captured Cahill bragging about Westies/Irish mob decades-long alliances and Gambino meetings. Cuomo distanced himself, calling allegations "ugly" and unrelated to their infrastructure collaborations. Cahill denied ties; case ongoing.
Joseph Percoco (Aide): Cuomo's "third brother" and 2014 campaign manager was convicted in 2018 of bribery ("pay-to-play" schemes), using Sopranos-style code like "ziti" for payoffs. Prosecutors noted mob-like tropes in emails, but no actual mafia involvement. Percoco got 6 years; Cuomo was not charged but criticized for enabling corruption.
Frank Carone (Campaign Ally): Cuomo's 2025 strategist intervened for a tow-truck firm owner linked to a Gambino associate (per 2025 secret recordings). Carone lobbied NYC officials; no Cuomo wrongdoing alleged, but it highlights his machine's reach.
Other Whispers: Ex-staffer Steve Villano's brother was a Gotti bagman, but Villano hid it from Mario's team. A 1990s law partner of Andrew's (Richard Blutrich) had mob dealings in a strip club scam, but that's attenuated. Recent X chatter (e.g., October 2025 posts) ties Cuomo to "Italian mafia" control of NYC, amplified by his debate clashes with Curtis Sliwa (a Gambino target).
Cuomo's AG office, however, aggressively targeted the mob: In 2008, he led a task force indicting 62 Gambino/Genovese/Bonanno members, including the Gambino "administration," for extortion, murder, and construction rackets—earning praise for dismantling La Cosa Nostra's influence.
SummaryAndrew Cuomo's "mob ties" are more fog than fire—rooted in family rumors, ally scandals, and anti-Italian bias he's vocally fought. Unlike direct players, he's prosecuted mafia figures and avoided personal charges, but his Albany machine's opacity invites skepticism. In the 2025 race, rivals like Sliwa (shot by Gambinos) and Mamdani hammer this for contrast, with X posts joking Cuomo as the "Italian mafia" heir. Substantiated claims are thin; it's politically potent, but legally, he's clean on this front. If anything, it underscores NYC's enduring tangle of power, ethnicity, and crime.
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