Top state technology official quietly departs – Capitol Confidential – Albany Times Union

Robert Samson (Photo: Paul Buckowski)

ITS has also been the subject of a long-running investigation by the state Inspector General’s office, though it has not resulted in the public release of any formal conclusions. According to sources, a center of the probe has been possible actions by Samson. 

The IG’s probe, which began in late 2017, began after the IG’s office received emailed complaints about a lengthy list of alleged spending abuses and waste in the agency.

When the Times Union asked the Inspector General’s office earlier this year for a copy of any report stemming from the investigation, the IG’s office responded on June 5 that it could not be provided because “an ongoing investigation” had “not yet been completed.”

While the Samson probe began under former state IG Catherine Leahy Scott, she was replaced in January by Letizia Tagliafierro.

In May, an ITS spokeswoman, Erin McCarthy, had told the Times Union that Samson was “not leaving.”

McCarthy told the Times Union on Friday that Samson’s decision was announced in an internal email to ITS staff last week, which she provided to the Times Union. She did not answer a question about whether the IG’s probe played any role in the Samson retirement.

A press release announcing Samson’s decision to depart does not appear on ITS’ website, but was reported by Government Technology, which in 2018 named Samson one of its top 25 “Doers, Dreamers and Drivers” of the year.

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