ALBANY – The state inspector general yesterday launched a probe into whether a top aide to Gov. Paterson sought to “intimidate” the head of the state Liquor Authority into renewing liquor licenses for posh restaurants owned by the influential Cipriani family.
The investigation began just hours after The Post disclosed SLA Chairman Daniel Boyle’s allegation that former state Sen. Carl Andrews, Paterson’s $171,000-a-year special assistant, sought to pressure him last spring, when the authority considered pulling licenses at nine Cipriani-connected establishments, including the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center. At the time, two Cipriani family members had pleaded guilty to income-tax evasion and paid a $10 million fine.
“I received a call from the IG’s office the first thing in the morning, citing the story in The Post,” said Boyle, who opposed renewing the Cipriani licenses.
“I was called by the No. 2 person, Kelly Donovan, and she said they would take this very seriously and start an investigation.”
Donovan is a former assistant in Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau’s office who successfully prosecuted then-Sen. Guy Velella (R-Bronx) on a bribery charge.
Boyle said he pledged to provide Donovan with notes and other records he disclosed to The Post.
“I’m giving them everything I have regarding Cipriani,” he said.
Inspector General Joseph Fisch, a former state Supreme Court justice named to his current post by Paterson in April, said only “no comment” when asked about the probe.
Boyle had told The Post Andrews arranged a meeting with him under false pretenses in May and quickly brought up the Cipriani licenses.
Citing notes he said he transcribed at the time, Boyle contended that Andrews told him, “Can I offer you some sound political advice? Speak how you feel, but vote on what you need to do. People here are who you answer to.”
Andrews said he had met with Boyle but insisted that he never attempted to exert pressure on behalf of the Cipriani licenses.
Boyle, a Republican named to the three-member authority board by former Gov. George Pataki, was the lone “no” vote at an August meeting, at which the two Democratic appointees voted to allow the Ciprianis, who had agreed to pay a $500,000 “settlement,” to keep the liquor licenses.