Subpoenas sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo's office in hopes of stopping construction of gas plant

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Construction on the CPV Power Plant in Orange County is well underway, but on Friday, Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered his staff to have no connection with the company, because of the possibility of improper lobbying, and undisclosed conflicts of interest.

On Friday, sources told Eyewitness News one of the governor's closest friends and top assistance, Joe Percoco, who is now with MSG, is being investigated by Federal prosecutors and the FBI.

'Protect Orange County' has fought the plant for years.

"I think the feeling we have is disappointed - disappointed in our governor, disappointed in his administration, you know the fact that he is supposed to be representing clean government, and a change," says Randy Hurst.

On Monday, New York State ethics officials released documents showing Percoco earned 100 to $150,000 working on the governor's re-election campaign.

At the same time, he reported, another 50-$75 thousand from COR Development, and $50,000 from CHA Consulting.

Surprisingly, COR released a statement Monday, saying, "COR Development did not hire, retain or pay Joe Percoco in any capacity."

This is one of the things U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara may be looking at closely.

Prosecutors are also examining state money that the governor invested in Buffalo. The prosecutors have issued subpoenas and demanded records, but not from the governor himself. Eyewitness News does not yet know whether Percoco is being looked at it for his work in Buffalo, or any work he might have done on the CPV Plant, but opponents of that plant now see a glimmer of hope, that trouble in the Governor's Office might help their cause.

"We're not surprised - surprise is not one of those things we feel right now, but I think we're excited at the prospect that there's a possibility that the construction of this project could be stopped," Randy Hurst added.