Cuomo watch: A question of influence

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo didn't respond directly when asked if his office influenced the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, amid reports that a subpoena to the state Democratic Party was quashed. Cuomo said neither he nor his staff directed the commission not to issue the subpoena.

But when asked if his staff guided the panel, the governor said: "Well you know that the staff -- the Moreland Commission is staffed by people from the governor's office and the AG's [attorney general's] office . . . The co-chairs vote on what subpoenas to do and it requires a unanimous vote of the co-chairs."

Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice is among the three co-chairs.

-- Yancey Roy