A former Cuomo assistant named Brittany Commisso has come forward to publicly identify herself in media interviews. She has stated that she’s the employee who told Apple’s investigators that her former boss manhandled her and grabbed her breast in the Executive Mansion.
Apple said in a statement that his investigator went to court to “determine the most appropriate legal pathway moving for on the investigation” into the former governor. The sheriff added that his investigators “have determined that there was enough probable cause to present evidence to the court.”
But Albany County District Attorney David Soares, whose office is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases, said in a statement he had been unaware of Apple’s plans to lodge the complaint. “Like the rest of the public, we were surprised to learn today that a criminal complaint was filed in Albany City Court by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office against Andrew Cuomo,” Soares, who’s among at least five New York district attorneys whose have investigated possible crimes by Cuomo against women, added.
Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, said in a written statement, “Governor Cuomo has never assaulted anyone, and Sheriff Apple’s motives here are patently improper. Sheriff Apple didn’t even tell the District Attorney what he was doing,” Glavin said.
In the report issued by James in August, investigators found that Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 current and former employees. The report concluded he touched women without their consent and made inappropriate comments toward numerous women. The Attorney General added that Cuomo broke state and federal laws with his conduct.
