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his 2011 file photo shows Joseph Percoco of Huguenot with Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Election Day in Mount Kisco, N.Y. At the time, he was serving as deputy press secretary to the governor. Percoco, who left the the governor's office shortly after, was indicted in September on charges he sought bribes from companies that do business with New York State. (Staten Island Advance)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo said he's been in touch with federal prosecutors about corruption charges brought against Joseph Percoco, his longtime aide with ties to Staten Island.

Cuomo -- who has not been accused of any wrong-doing -- told the New York Times he had been in touch with the office of Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who brought the charges.

"As part of our continuing cooperation, the governor voluntarily made himself available and shared his knowledge of facts potentially relevant to the case," Cuomo's chief of staff, Melissa DeRosa, said in a statement released to the Times.

She said the governor could not comment further on the case while charges are still pending.

Percoco was indicted in September on charges he "willfully and knowingly" conspired to solicit and take more than $315,000 in bribes from companies doing business with New York State.

According to the indictment, Percoco referred to the bribes as "ziti," and used the name "Herb" while discussing the arrangements. The indictment charges he also used his influence to arrange for no-show job for his wife, a former city teacher.

Percoco, a 1991 Wagner College graduate from Huguenot, had served as executive deputy secretary to the governor, and had been described by Albany observers as Cuomo's "right-hand man."

Percoco left the Cuomo administration earlier this year.