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Cuomo: Albany Should Police Itself With Ethics Law

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Governor-Elect Andrew Cuomo and Attorney General-Elect Eric Schneiderman held a private meeting Friday and spoke with reporters afterward.

During that media briefing, Cuomo was asked about State Inspector General Joseph Fisch's call for the creation of a crime busting office to investigate all branches of government, including the state legislature.

Cuomo said it was up to the Legislature to clean up their own act by passing an ethics law, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.

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WCBS 880 Irene Cornell talks with Andrew Cuomo

"Everybody said they're going to clean up Albany. Well, lets clean up Albany. Best way to do it is not these hodgepodge efforts," Cuomo said.

Instead, Cuomo said it would be "comprehensive ethics reform passed by the state legislature" that would be the most effective tool in combating government scandals and abuse.

"They all ran saying we're going to clean up Albany. Well good, now they'll have legislation they can pass," Cuomo said.

Lawmakers from both parties have been prosecuted for various crimes in recent years -- mostly thanks to federal prosecutors.

Also on Friday, Cuomo said he would "advocate forcefully" to keep the trial of professed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed out of New York state. Cuomo said he would press the issue with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

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