The Albany County Sheriff's Office on Thursday filed a criminal complaint against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, charging him with forcibly touching an executive assistant last year, a misdemeanor.
The sheriff’s office investigation began after 11 women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse, which were documented in a report issued in August by state Attorney General Letitia James.
While saying many of the allegations against him were false or overblown, Cuomo announced his resignation 10 days after James issued her report.
The criminal complaint filed Thursday accuses Cuomo of reaching under the blouse of a woman on Dec. 7, 2020, while at the Executive Mansion in Albany.
Sheriff Craig Apple said in a statement Thursday that "there was enough probable cause to present evidence to the court."
Albany City Court issued a criminal summons for Cuomo to appear in court on Nov. 17.
Albany County District Attorney David Soares seemed to be surprised by this development.
"Like the rest of the public, we were surprised to learn to say that a criminal complaint was filed in Albany city Court by the Albany County Sheriff's Office against Andrew Cuomo," Soares said in a statement. "The Office of Court Administration has since made that filing public. Our office will not be commenting further on this case."
Cuomo's attorney, Rita Glavin, said Cuomo never assaulted anyone and said Sheriff Apple's "motives here are patently improper."
Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi also blasted the sheriff and the attorney general.
"'Accidentally’ filing a criminal charge without notification and consent of the prosecuting body doesn’t pass the laugh test and this process reeks of Albany politics and perhaps worse," he said in a statement. "The fact that the AG — as predicted — is about to announce a run for governor is lost on no one. The truth about what happened with this cowboy sheriff will come out.”
The state Assembly is expected to issue a detailed report about multiple controversies surrounding Cuomo, including the sexual abuse accusations.
In a statement, state Attorney James said, “From the moment my office received the referral to investigate allegations that former Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, we proceeded without fear or favor. The criminal charges brought today against Mr. Cuomo for forcible touching further validate the findings in our report.”