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| Rich Bamberger, Josh Vlasto |
Rich Bamberger and Josh Vlasto, former aides to disgraced and departing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, have left their managing director jobs at Kivvit.
“We agreed to amicably part ways,” they told the New York Post in a joint statement.
Bamberger and Vlasto were members of the governor’s “inner circle” of advisors that worked to fend off accusations of sexual misconduct, according to the report compiled by New York attorney general Letitia James.
Melissa DeRosa, who resigned as Cuomo’s secretary earlier this month, testified that Vlasto came up with the idea to leak the personnel files of Lindsey Boylan, a sexual harassment accuser, to the press.
The AG report claims that Bamberger helped gather signatures for a letter that impugned the credibility of Boylan, suggesting that she was working with supporters of then-president Trump.
Bamberger was Cuomo’s communications director from 2008 to 2012. Vlasto was deputy communications director and chief of staff from 2011 to 2014.
Kivvit managing director Tom Meara told the Post that Bamberger and Vlasto acted in “their personal capacity” when they advised Cuomo.
The firm, which has various contracts with New York State, is the home of managing partner Maggie Moran, who was Cuomo’s campaign manager for his reelection primary.
Former New York governor David Paterson signed on as an advisor to Kivvit on Sept. 30, 2020.
Kivvit, which is No. 14 on O’Dwyer’s rankings of independent PR firms, chalked up $34M in fee income during the past year.
Tricia McLaughlin, the combative spokesperson for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, is leaving her post.
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Tim Allan, communications director for embattled British prime minister Keir Starmer, has quit as the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has engulfed Ten Downing Street.
