The Special Prosecutor In The Eric Schneiderman Case Is Already Interviewing His Accusers

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas is serving as the special prosecutor investigating allegations that former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman physically abused women he was romantically involved with.

In her role as special prosecutor, Singas has “assembled a team of top prosecutors” to work on the matter, and the Associated Press reports that Singas has elected to conduct many of the interviews herself:

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas met Wednesday with Michelle Manning Barish, one of the four women whose allegations of abuse were the subject of a New Yorker expose on Schneiderman, according to two people familiar with the investigation.

Both people spoke about the interview on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly.

Manning Barish’s story, which she told the New Yorker, was deeply disturbing:

She told The New Yorker that Schneiderman, a Democrat, became controlling and abusive soon after they started dating. She said he slapped her hard across the face and choked her.

“I felt like I was being beaten by a man,” she told the magazine.

That’s because you were! In all seriousness, this is the sad side effect of stories of abuse — now, after everything, she’s still talking about the abuse she says she suffered as if it wasn’t abuse. It’s still, to some degree, making an excuse for the abuser. That’s a psychological harm that takes a long time to heal.

For its part, Schneiderman’s camp praised the investigation and remains confident that they will prevail:

Schneiderman’s lawyer, Isabelle Kirshner, has said she is confident Singas “will conduct a fair, thorough and unbiased investigation” that won’t result in any criminal charges.

Singas, who Cuomo appointed to the role because he’s desperately posturing for the left-leaning votes flocking to Cynthia Nixon in November over concerns that Cy Vance would have a conflict of interest, given that Schneiderman was until recently investigating Vance’s failure to prosecute Harvey Weinstein, credited the Gov for his handling of the case:

Manning Barish said she was “deeply grateful” for Cuomo’s “swift leadership” in the Scheniderman case.

“Leadership is defined in moments like these, where a statement is made before waiting for public opinion to decide it for you,” she wrote. “He has my vote.”

Oh, what a convenient sound byte! Honestly, I wonder if Schneiderman would even have resigned if Cynthia Nixon didn’t exist.

Special Prosecutor Interviewing Women Who Accused Eric Schneiderman of Abuse [New York Law Journal]

Earlier: NY Attorney General Resigns Amid Accusations Of Physically Abusing Women
Cy Vance Mad That He’ll Miss Out On Opportunity To Bungle Schneiderman Case

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Joe Patrice is an editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news.