Aide who claims Andrew Cuomo of groped her in governor's mansion meets with investigators as subpoenas are issued seeking more evidence
The aide who accused disgraced former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of groping her in the governor's mansion last November met with the authorities Monday as officials issued subpoenas to gather more information regarding the alleged incident.
Brittany Commisso, 33, reportedly spent 'several hours' speaking with investigators regarding the criminal complaint she filed against Cuomo, 63, earlier this month, Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple told the New York Post.
She has accused him of reaching under her shirt and grabbing her breast.
The incident was outlined in the report released by State Attorney General Letitia James on August 3 on sexual harassment allegations made against Cuomo by 11 women, including Commisso, who was referred to as 'executive assistant 1.'
She made her identity public on August 9, just days after the release of James' report, in an interview with CBS News and the Albany Times Union.
'What he did to me was a crime,' she said in the interview. 'He broke the law.'
Brittany Commisso, (pictured) the aide who accused former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of groping her, met with investigators Monday regarding her criminal complaint on the alleged incident
Commisso revealed her identity in an August 9 interview with CBS News and the Albany Times Union. She had previously been referred to as 'executive assistant 1' in report compiled by New York Attorney General Letitia James outlining hers and 10 other women's sexual harassment allegations
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing, though he has acknowledged that his efforts to be affectionate with people he encounters may have made some people uncomfortable.
His lawyer, Rita Glavin, told reporters on August 6 that Commisso's account was fabricated, citing emails and other documentary evidence she said undermines her story.
Sheriff Apple declined to say what records were being sought by the subpoenas, but Commisso has claimed that she helped Cuomo send a text from his iPhone to top assistant Stephanie Benton on the day of the alleged incident, according the Times Union, which first reported on the subpoenas.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple (left) confirmed that his investigators had met with Commisso Monday, and that his office had issued subpoenas regarding the alleged incident. Also present during the interview was a prosecutor with Albany County District Attorney David Soares (right)
The report by Attorney General Letitia James (pictured) prompted an Assembly impeachment inquiry. Within a week of its release, Cuomo announced he was stepping down
Cuomo has denied Commisso's allegation, which was the most serious outlined in the report
In addition Albany County sheriff's investigators, a prosecutor from Albany County District Attorney David Soares was also present at Monday's interview, the Post reported.
Commisso's allegation was the most serious outlined in James' report,
She also said he rubbed her backside while taking a photo.
'The most serious allegations made against me have no credible factual basis in the report,' Cuomo said. 'There is a difference between alleged improper conduct and concluding sexual harassment.'
Sheriff Apple had said previously that Commisso's complaint could result in misdemeanor charges for Cuomo.
Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin (pictured) has said Commisso's allegation was fabricated
'From what I have read so far, I can say we’re floating around a misdemeanor, but that’s just from the attorney general’s report,' Apple said, according to the Post.
'We haven’t had an in depth interview with her.'
Cuomo resigned amid a looming impeachment by the Assembly, which in addition to the allegations made in James' report, it Judiciary Committee was looking into reports on whether Cuomo obscured nursing home Covid-19 deaths, and whether he used state resources to fund his self-congratulatory memoir, Lessons in Leadership.
His resignation meant those investigations have stopped, but he still faces criminal probes by the FBI and the Brooklyn US Attorney's office over the nursing homes deaths.
Additionally, James is investigating the allegations surrounding Cuomo's memoir, following a criminal referral by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
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