Woman files criminal complaint against NY governor
New York: A woman who says New York Governor Andrew Cuomo groped her breast has filed a criminal complaint against the politician, US law enforcement said, increasing the possibility he might be charged.
The woman, who has not been named but who works as an aide to Cuomo, says the three-term governor assaulted her at his executive mansion last year.
Her allegation formed part of an explosive report released this week that said Cuomo sexually harassed 11 former and current state employees.
The veteran Democrat, 63, has repeatedly denied ever touching a woman inappropriately.
“A criminal complaint was filed yesterday,” an official at the Albany County sheriff’s office said on Friday.
US media said the complaint was made by a woman referred to as “Executive Assistant #1” in the report made public by New York state Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday.
The independent investigation, which was civil in nature, said Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 former and current state employees.
“Executive Assistant #1” told the probe that Cuomo put his hand up her blouse in his office in November 2020.
At a news briefing on Friday, lawyers defending Cuomo and his office argued that the investigation was biased from the start.
“There has been no open-minded fact-finding in this case,” said Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin.
“The investigation was conducted to support a predetermined narrative. This was one-sided and he was ambushed.”
The lawyer also showed reporters transcripts of emails purportedly sent by Executive Assistant #1 that Glavin said doubted her testimony.
At least five district attorneys have since opened inquiries into Cuomo’s behaviour.
Legal experts have suggested that Cuomo could face forcible touching misdemeanour charges.
James’ report also accused him of presiding over a toxic workplace for women and of taking retaliatory action against at least one of his accusers.
Cuomo has rejected calls from President Joe Biden and other leading Democrats to quit and state lawmakers are moving to impeach him. He has been given a deadline of Aug 13 to submit evidence in his defence to their impeachment investigation.