Woman Files Criminal Complaint Against Gov. Cuomo for Sexual Harassment
By Celia Young August 6, 2021 12:24 pm
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One of the 11 women who accused Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment has filed a criminal complaint against him with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman, identified only as “executive assistant #1” in Attorney General Letitia James report — which found that Cuomo harassed multiple women, created a toxic work environment, and violated state and federal law — filed the complaint during a Thursday afternoon meeting with sheriff’s officials, who have contacted the Albany County District Attorney’s office, The New York Post reported.
A spokesperson for Cuomo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It’s possible the governor could be arrested if the allegations are substantiated, the Post reported. And other aides to the governor could be implicated in charges if they are found to have retaliated against witnesses in defense of the governor, Commercial Observer reported. The woman was initially hesitant to come forward out of fear of losing her job, but decided to after watching Cuomo deny that he had touched anyone inappropriately, according to the report.
The woman said the governor groped her butt, while the two took a selfie in the New York State Executive Mansion, and also grabbed her breast, according to James’ report. Those two incidents were part of a series of inappropriate hugs, comments and looks, per the report.
“I felt that he was definitely taking advantage of me,” the assistant said in the report. “The fact that he could tell I was nervous. He could tell that I wasn’t saying anything because he had gotten away with it before.”
Cuomo defended himself in the report by saying she initiated the hugs, and denied in a press conference that he ever touched anyone inappropriately after the probe’s findings were released on Tuesday.
After the report came out, longtime labor and real estate allies of the governor started to call for his resignation or impeachment, even after backing him after the sexual harassment allegations became public. Among them were unions that represented teachers, health care workers and hotel workers, CO reported. And politicians as high up as President Joseph Biden have called on Cuomo to resign.
Celia Young can be reached at cyoung@commercialobserver.com.
