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1 year ago
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The disgraced former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo has been sued for sexual assault by his former executive assistant who claims he subjected her to 'demeaning tasks', kisses and groping.
Brittany Commisso filed the lawsuit in Albany Supreme Court on Wednesday ahead of the deadline for the Adult Survivors Act on Thursday, according to the New York Post.
She worked as an executive assistant in the Executive Chamber from 2019 until August 2021 and alleged Cuomo put her through 'humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, sexual touching of the buttocks and forcible touching of the breast.'
Commisso previously accused the former governor of groping her inside the Executive Mansion and filed a criminal complaint against him which was later dropped.
Cuomo, 65, resigned in 2021 amid a series of scandals including allegations of sexual harassment and claims that his administration lied about the number of Covid-19 deaths in nursing home across the Empire State - accusations which he has denied.
The disgraced former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo (right) has been sued for sexual assault by his former executive assistant Brittany Commisso (left) who claims he subjected her to 'demeaning tasks', kisses and groping
She worked as an executive assistant in the Executive Chamber from 2019 until August 2021 and alleged Cuomo put her through 'humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, sexual touching of the buttocks and forcible touching of the breast'
Commisso filed the lawsuit in Albany Supreme Court on Wednesday ahead of deadline for the Adult Survivors Act on Thursday. She previously accused Cuomo of groping her inside the Executive Mansion and filed a criminal complaint against him which was later dropped
Commisso, a mother of one, claimed that Cuomo started a campaign of retaliation against her on December 7, 2020 after she refused his attempt 'to engage in sexual acts'.
She reported his alleged misconduct on March 8, 2021 before then-Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul 'demoted her' and resigned her to 'the demeaning task of answering telephones in the Lieutenant Governor’s office until moved to other offices', according to the lawsuit.
The former executive assistant claims she lost out on pay for overtime, was 'given little or no work' and ostracized from her colleagues.
She also alleged her career opportunities suffered after she reported Cuomo.
New York and Cuomo's special counsel Judith Mogul has been named in the lawsuit for allegedly aiding her mistreatment and demotion.
The criminal sexual assault case against the former governor was eventually dropped by the Albany County district attorney in January 2022.
Cuomo resigned as governor in August 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment including from a female state trooper who alleged he touched her inappropriately.
She filed a lawsuit in Brooklyn federal court where it is still pending.
Cuomo has been been accused of sexual harassment or mistreatment by 11 women who worked under him. But he has denied any wrongdoing.
Commisso, a mother of one, claimed that Cuomo started a campaign of retaliation against her on December 7, 2020 after she refused his attempt 'to engage in sexual acts'
On New Year's Eve, 2019, Commisso claimed Cuomo grabbed her buttocks before they took this selfie. He says it's untrue, that she was excited by the picture and was 'flirtatious' with him
Cuomo, 65, resigned in 2021 amid a series of scandals including allegations of sexual harassment and claims that his administration lied about the number of Covid-19 deaths in nursing home across the Empire State - accusations which he has denied
His former assistant Charlotte Bennette filed a lawsuit in March which echoed her claims from a previous federal case.
She claimed he once joked about being investigated for sexual harassment over an incident which involved her.
The lawsuit, which is still pending, alleges he asked invasive questions about her sex life and told her he was 'lonely' and willing to date someone over 21.
Cuomo won a motion in court for the state to cover the cost of his $20million legal fees as a result of the probes into him and his administration.
His lawyer Rita Glavin slammed Commisso's lawsuit as a money grab attempt.
'Ms. Commisso’s claims are provably false, which is why the Albany District Attorney dismissed the case two years ago after a thorough investigation,' she said.
'Ms. Commisso’s transparent attempt at a cash grab will fail. We look forward to seeing her in court.'
The news comes as reports suggest Cuomo is plotting a political comeback as the mayor of New York City.
In a new interview with Politico, Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr., a conservative former state senator from New York, said that Cuomo has given him the impression that he is 'ready' to run for city hall.
'My opinion is if he runs, he will win. People are in need of a leader. Even though Governor Cuomo and I have our differences, we've had many fights in the past, and besides the differences, I think he was a great governor,' Diaz said.
A source close to Cuomo told DailyMail.com: 'The future is the future and he gets these questions often, which I think are fueled by the fact that many people are facing a crisis in confidence in government at many levels and now view the circumstances in which he left office as the political railroading that it was.'
DailyMail.com has contacted Cuomo and Hochul for further comment.
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