Prosecutors in Albany County decided Tuesday not to pursue a misdemeanor sex crime case against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, thus ending the most imminent legal danger to the disgraced Democrat.
Mr. Cuomo was accused in October of forcibly touching his secretary Brittany Commisso at the Executive Mansion in Albany during a 2020 encounter. Officials said Ms. Commisso met with detectives for Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, whose agency brought the complaint against Mr. Cuomo without consulting the district attorney, P. David Soares.
Andrew Cuomo Denies Charges
Andrew Cuomo’s counsel did not respond to inquiries for comment. His attorneys claimed that Mr. Apple’s timing was politically influenced, and he has refuted the accusation. The former governor was set to be charged in Albany City Court on Friday.
Mr. Soares, a Democrat, said his office found Ms. Commisso helpful and believable, but that the charge will be dropped because they couldn’t meet the burden of proof at trial after reviewing all the evidence.
The criminal charge was Mr. Cuomo’s most serious legal issue since he is also being probed for possible misuse of public money in the preparation of his pandemic biography, as well as the state’s Covid-19 nursing facility laws. On both counts, he has denied wrongdoing.
Andrew Cuomo resigned in August during an impeachment probe and after state Attorney General Letitia James found that he sexually assaulted several women, including Ms. Commisso. Mr. Cuomo has denied touching anybody improperly. He said that Ms. James’ actions were driven by politics.
Andrew Cuomo had unwelcome physical contact with multiple women, including Ms. Commisso and a member of his State Police security detail, according to Ms. James’ investigation. According to the complaint, while attending an event at the Belmont Racetrack in Nassau County, the former governor kissed the trooper on the cheek and ran his hand down her abdomen at his Westchester County residence.
Andrew Cuomo touched Ms. Commisso’s breast over her bra after she was asked to help him use his smartphone at the Executive Mansion, the governor’s official house, Ms. Commisso told Ms. James’ investigators.
