A former worker who accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her within the Executive Mansion in Albany has filed a felony grievance with the Albany County sheriff’s division, the division mentioned on Friday.
The lady, whose title has not been made public, was an government assistant who informed state investigators that Cuomo groped her breast on one event. It is the gravest of the sexual harassment allegations confronted by Cuomo, whose as soon as ascendant political profession as a part of one of many nation’s strongest Democratic Party households is on the point of collapse.
The former aide was one among at the least 11 ladies who state investigators this week mentioned had been sexually harassed by Cuomo, a Democrat. The governor is resisting widespread calls to resign, together with from US President Joe Biden, and faces impeachment by state lawmakers.
At a information briefing on Friday, attorneys defending Cuomo and his workplace argued that the investigation was biased from the beginning.
“There has been no open-minded fact-finding in this case,” mentioned Rita Glavin, a lawyer representing Cuomo. “The investigation was conducted to support a predetermined narrative.”
The government assistant informed investigators that Cuomo referred to as her to the mansion in November 2020, led her right into a room, closed the door, slid his hand underneath her shirt and cupped her breast over her bra, in line with the investigators’ report, launched on Tuesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Judith Olin, a legislation professor on the University of Buffalo and a former New York state prosecutor who specialised in sexual assault circumstances, mentioned the assistant’s allegations may help a cost of forcible touching, a misdemeanour, or probably even a felony cost of sexual abuse. But she additionally mentioned any prosecution may face an uphill climb given the shortage of bodily proof and witnesses.
James’ report additionally concluded that Cuomo and his employees retaliated towards at the least one lady who complained about him by leaking her confidential employment data to the press. James mentioned the governor had damaged each federal and state legal guidelines forbidding sexual harassment within the office however that the investigation she oversaw was a civil one and that she wouldn’t be prosecuting.
The felony grievance was first reported by the New York Post. A spokesman for the sheriff’s workplace, who declined to provide his title, confirmed that the lady filed a grievance.
Cuomo, who has been holed up with advisers on the governor’s mansion for the reason that report’s launch, has conceded that he’s affectionate with folks he meets however denies wrongdoing. His employees contacted Albany police in March when the lady’s allegations emerged.
“As we said previously, we proactively made a referral nearly four months ago in accordance with state policies,” Richard Azzopardi, a Cuomo spokesperson, mentioned in an announcement.
Glavin, Cuomo’s lawyer, didn’t handle the felony grievance itself however mentioned the chief assistant’s accusation was false. Records present the lady was on the mansion on Nov 16, 2020, however Glavin pointed to emails the lady despatched whereas she was there that gave no indication something untoward had occurred.
“The documentary evidence does not support what she said,” Glavin mentioned.
Cuomo’s attorneys additionally criticized James for not releasing the transcripts of witness statements to investigators, which might enable them to look at the proof immediately.
In response, Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for James, mentioned, “There are 11 women whose accounts have been corroborated by a mountain of evidence. Any suggestion that attempts to undermine the credibility of these women or this investigation is unfortunate.”
The Albany County district lawyer’s workplace is one among a number of prosecutors across the state which have requested data collated by the lawyer basic’s investigators, however wouldn’t verify on Friday {that a} formal grievance had been filed.”This is an ongoing matter that’s underneath assessment,” Cecelia Walsh, a spokesperson for the district lawyer, mentioned in an announcement.
