The New York Post reports that an executive assistant who accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her has filed a criminal complaint, leading one Sheriff to suggest it could lead to an arrest.
The victim is identified in the bombshell report released earlier this week by New York Attorney General Letitia James as “Executive Assistant #1.”
Nearly a dozen women accused Cuomo of some form of sexual misconduct, the most serious of which involved the unnamed female aide who said the governor groped her at the Executive Mansion in November.
‘Executive Assistant #1’ is described in the report as having been subjected to “a pattern of inappropriate conduct.”
Such conduct included, allegedly, “intimate hugs,” “at least one kiss on the lips,” and “touching and grabbing of Executive Assistant #1’s butt during hugs” and while taking selfies.
The report states that the pattern of sexual misconduct “culminated” with an incident in which Cuomo purportedly “reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast.”
Could This Lead To Cuomo’s Arrest?
The New York Post reveals that the female executive assistant filed a criminal complaint against Governor Cuomo with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Craig Apple, a Democrat, confirmed receipt of the complaint with the Post and said sheriff’s officials have since contacted the Albany County District Attorney’s office.
Apple raised the possibility of arrest and prosecution but said they would be contingent on the claims being substantiated and the discretion of the DA.
“The end result could either be it sounds substantiated and an arrest is made and it would be up to the DA to prosecute the arrest,” he said.
“Just because of who it is we are not going to rush it or delay it,” added Apple.
Serious Allegations
The AG report lays out some details of the alleged assault as described by the victim herself. It may provide insight into what Cuomo may be accused of in the actual criminal complaint.
“I mean it was — he was like cupping my breast. He cupped my breast,” the woman told investigators.
Cuomo also, according to the victim’s statements in the report, “moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and began to rub it” for at least five seconds.
Speculation of Governor Cuomo’s arrest based on the DA’s decision comes as Albany County District Attorney David Soares confirmed that his office had opened up an investigation.
“We are conducting our own separate investigation,” Soares told ‘NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt’ earlier this week.
Soares declined to confirm the existence of a criminal complaint by Executive Assistant #1.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, and in doing so, violated federal and state law,” James said in a shocking press conference Tuesday – while inexplicably also stating she would not be bringing any charges.
A total of 11 women have thus far complained of some form of sexual misconduct regarding Governor Cuomo.
The New York Democrat, at one time under consideration as President Biden’s attorney general, has denied the allegations.
Specifically speaking of Executive Assistant #1’s accusations, Cuomo denied them saying, “That never happened.”
“I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances,” the governor said at a news conference.
