Letitia James Accused of Double Standards After Whistleblower Files Leak

When the Attorney General’s office handed over a cache of internal emails and personnel files about prosecutor Daniel Wiesenfeld, the reaction was louder than a courtroom gavel. Richard Azzopardi – the guy who ran communications for Andrew Cuomo during his turbulent tenure – called Letitia James “the biggest hypocrite in Albany.” He didn’t mince words, noting it was “galling” to see the same playbook used now that he once helped write.

Azzopardi, who was also linked to a 2020 controversy over the release of staffer Lindsey Boylan’s files, pointed out the uncomfortable echo. “If what I did was retaliation, what is this?” he asked, holding the two incidents side by side as if they were twins separated at birth.

Wiesenfeld, a prosecutor in the Investor Protection Bureau, says he was ordered by James to keep chasing an insider‑trading case involving former President Donald Trump – despite, he claims, a glaring lack of evidence. In his own words, “Tish was the boss and what Tish wanted, Tish got.” The AG’s office, however, says Wiesenfeld was let go for “performance issues” and for allegedly mishandling privileged information.

The paperwork released via a FOIL request to the Times Union shows the AG’s HR director, Jenna Moran, demanding that Wiesenfeld delete any confidential emails that had allegedly been sent to his personal account. Wiesenfeld pushed back, insisting the documents were merely evidence and that any attempt to destroy them would only make the matter more public.

James’ spokesperson brushed off Azzopardi’s accusations as “disingenuous,” reminding everyone that the AG’s office is bound to act when an attorney breaches the law or professional conduct rules. “Mr. Wiesenfeld was terminated for cause after a thorough review,” the statement read.

The backstory, though, adds a layer of irony. In late 2020, after Lindsey Boylan accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, Azzopardi allegedly distributed her internal complaints to reporters, claiming the release was cleared by legal counsel. Those files, too, became a headline‑grabbing saga – one that now mirrors the present controversy.

Whether the two episodes are truly comparable is a matter of opinion, but the parallel has certainly ignited a fresh debate about transparency, retaliation, and the standards to which New York’s top law‑enforcer should be held.