MANHATTAN — Gov. Andrew Cuomo directed the New York State and Port Authority’s inspectors general to investigate “deeply troubling” allegations that a well-connected businessman used the NYPD to close a lane in the Lincoln Tunnel for his own private use, according to a letter sent to the agency on Tuesday.
Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev, known as the "King of Diamonds,” was given an escort through the tunnel, which was organized by Jeremy Reichberg, one of the businessmen at the center of the ongoing corruption probes, the New York Post reported.
“The NYPD has no jurisdiction within the tunnel's boundaries,” Cuomo wrote in the letter dated June 21, which was sent to Port Authority leaders including Executive Director Patrick Foye. “If members of the Port Authority or PAPD participated in any fashion — through purpose or neglect — the State will deliver immediate and severe consequences.”
Federal prosecutors said during Monday’s arrest of several NYPD officials that Deputy Chief Michael Harrington had the lane shut down to allow a foreign businessman to travel through.
It was not immediately clear when exactly the lane closure occurred.
Cuomo also ordered the Port Authority to coordinate their internal investigation with Preet Bharara’s office and the FBI during.
“When those who are sanctioned to uphold the law use their position for personal gain, it threatens all of us,” Cuomo said. “We will simply not allow Port Authority facilities to be chips in some nefarious pattern of deceit.”
The Port Authority did not return an immediate request for comment.