Several of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s fiercest critics are applauding the decision to charge him with sexual assault following findings of the state’s top law enforcer earlier this summer that he had broken a number of federal and state laws following complaints by nearly a dozen women.
Late Thursday, the New York Post noted that the former Democratic governor is expected to be arrested next week after a criminal complaint filed in Albany City Court alleging that he “did intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly place his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim…and onto her intimate body part” in the Executive Mansion.
“Specifically, the victims [sic] left breast for the purposes of degrading and satisfying his sexual desire,” the complaint continued.
The act allegedly occurred the afternoon of Dec. 7 on the second floor of the governor’s official residence. The alleged victim’s name was redacted from the criminal complaint, but an attorney who is representing former aide Brittany Commisso, 33, said she is the victim.
The forcible touching allegation carries a one-year maximum jail sentence if Cuomo is convicted. The Post reported that Cuomo is expected to be arrested next week.
“He came back to me and that’s when he put his hand up my blouse and cupped my breast over my bra,” Commisso told “CBS Good Morning” in August.” “I exactly remember looking down, seeing his hand, which is a large hand, thinking to myself, ‘Oh, my God. This is happening.’”
In August, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that an investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against Cuomo yielded criminal results.
“The independent investigation has concluded that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually arrested multiple women and violated federal and state law,” James said, though she went on to say the matters are “civil” in nature and thus declined to file charges.
“When my office received the referral to investigate allegations that former Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, we proceeded without fear or favor,” James noted on Twitter Thursday. “The criminal charges against Mr. Cuomo for forcible touching further validate the findings in our report.”
Janice Dean, Fox News’ senior meteorologist who has long called for Cuomo to be held accountable for the deaths of thousands of nursing home residents last year — her in-laws included — after requiring eldercare facilities to take in COVID-19-infected patients, reacted online.
“The charges Thursday allege that the disgraced governor’s filthy hands were all over a young woman’s body without her permission. And for those of us that lost loved ones in nursing homes, he has blood on those hands as well,” she tweeted.
“Although there is definitely some satisfaction in knowing this man could actually be arrested for a crime after being talked about as a possible presidential candidate last year, it is still not enough for those of us who have been asking for answers and accountability for arguably an even bigger crime: Helping to kill thousands of seniors in nursing homes in the spring 2020,” she noted further in an op-ed at Fox News.
“Today’s announcement that criminal charges are being brought against serial sexual predator and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo for sexual assault charges is a step in the right direction. Justice must be served,” noted Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), the No. 3 Republican in the House, in a statement.
“Sadly, this is just one of many crimes committed by sexual predator Andrew Cuomo during his time in office,” she continued. “Justice must be served. Corrupt Cuomo and his hacks belong behind bars. I will not stop advocating for the sake of every New Yorker until justice is served for his victims.”
The Cuomo charges are a distraction. His policy literally murdered thousands of elderly in his state and has not been held accountable.
— Law Officer (@LawOfficer) October 29, 2021
Cuomo’s no longer in power.
So he’s no longer useful to Democrats.
But good riddance.https://t.co/MNWIwht1iy
— 🇺🇸 Mike Davis 🇺🇸 (@mrddmia) October 28, 2021
“My clients are enormously grateful for the courage of the women who have come forward to speak the truth about Cuomo’s misconduct. Cuomo is being held to account as he should be, including by being forced to answer a criminal charge,” said Mariann Wang, an attorney for Alyssa McGrath and Virginia Limmiatis, two other alleged Cuomo victims.
“We hope that all men who abuse their power by abusing women will see this and understand that there will be real consequences to their profoundly damaging behavior,” Wang added.
Jon has over 30 years' worth of reporting experience, as well as an author and U.S. Army veteran. He has a BA in political science from Ashford University and an MA in national security studies/intelligence analysis from American Military University.
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