The money ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo earned from his book about the COVID-19 pandemic released a year ago should be given to victims and women's rights organizations, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara said Thursday.

Cuomo last year received a $5.1 million contract to write a memoir about his handling of the pandemic, "American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic." The book is now the subject of an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James' office over the alleged use of government resources to help the former governor write it.

Cuomo's resignation took effect Tuesday at midnight, weeks after James released a bombshell report compiled by independent investigators that he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing.

“New York’s public officer’s law is clear — elected officials cannot use their office to enrich themselves," Santabarbara said. "Disgraced former governor Cuomo’s outrageous self-promotion book is a glaring example of abuse. I call for all book profits to go to his victims and women’s rights organizations."

Cuomo's 2020 tax returns showed net income from the book last year amounted to $1.5 million after taxes and expenses.

Cuomo gave $500,000 to the United Way for COVID-related relief and vaccination efforts. At the same time, Cuomo put $1 million into a trust fund to benefit his three daughters.

Some lawmakers have also proposed preventing governors and other elected officials from profitting from book deals while in office.