Eric Schneiderman hires fed lawyers to combat President Trump
New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speaks during a news conference to announce the take down of a large organized crime ring, March 15, 2017 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images / Drew Angerer
ALBANY — State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has hired two experienced federal attorneys, one of whom is steeped in investigating public corruption and the other in federal law as Schneiderman plans to try to combat President Donald Trump’s administration on several fronts.
Schneiderman announced the hiring of Eric Haren as his special counsel and senior adviser. Haren had worked for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, where he has been chief counsel to the ranking Democrat, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
Schneiderman said Haren has “extensive experience in a broad range of federal policy areas, including civil rights, constitutional law, data privacy and security, and criminal law. He will provide the office with essential knowledge and expertise regarding both important areas of federal law as well as the internal workings of Congress and federal agencies.”
Schneiderman said he plans to use state law and New York’s unique position as home to the headquarters of many global corporations to enforce ethics regulations on Wall Street.
Schneiderman said he also plans to fight the promised rollbacks by the Trump administration of laws protecting the environment.
Schneiderman also announced the hiring of Howard Master. Master was previously deputy chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York.
Bharara had led corruption probes against New York’s two top legislative leaders.
His probe of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s signature Buffalo Billion economic development project resulted in charges against two of Cuomo’s longtime close associates.
Bharara was fired last week by the Trump administration as it continued a common practice by new administrations of cleaning house of holdover U.S. attorneys.
Schneiderman said Master will “lead complex affirmative investigations and litigation as well as advise on important investigations and prosecutions in the criminal division.”
A Schneiderman spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to a request to provide the new hires’ salaries.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
