ALBANY — Pro-fracking Sen. Tom Libous is under fire from groups that insist he recuse himself from deliberations on the contentious practice.
New York Water Rangers, the organization that includes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Riverkeeper, said in a statement Thursday that Libous should stop blocking a vote on extending a ban on fracking for two years.
Libous’ business partner and campaign donor, Luciano Piccirilli, runs a firm started by Libous’ wife that owns 230 acres near Oneonta. A drilling company has leased the property’s gas rights.
The recusal push targeting the 60-year-old Binghamton Republican comes amid calls to clean up Albany after two senators and an assemblyman, all Democrats from the New York City area, have been accused in corruption cases by federal authorities since April. They’ve all pleaded not guilty.
A Libous spokesman didn’t respond to an e-mail or a telephone call requesting comment.