An eight-month impeachment probe by the New York State Assembly’s Judiciary Committee found “overwhelming evidence” that former Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed women, The New York Times reports.
The committee released a 46-page report detailing its findings of Cuomo’s behavior and his attempts to cover up abuses of power.
The report detailed sexual harassment allegations from 12 women, including one who was not included in Attorney General Letitia James’ report that ultimately led to Cuomo’s resignation. Democrats dropped plans to impeach Cuomo after he stepped down but continued their investigation.
The report corroborated allegations from former Cuomo aide Brittan Commisso, citing a text message she sent before Cuomo allegedly groped her and key card swipe data confirming her actions before and after the alleged incident. The report found no “material inconsistencies” in Commisso’s account.
The committee’s investigators did not interview Cuomo, who has largely denied the allegations against him.
Abuse of power:
Beyond the sexual harassment claims, the report found that Cuomo abused his power by using state workers and state resources to publish his pandemic memoir, likely in violation of state ethics laws.
The report said that Cuomo was also “not fully transparent regarding the number of nursing home residents who died as a result of Covid-19.”
Numerous investigations have found that Cuomo’s office severely undercounted the number of nursing home deaths after issuing a policy requiring such facilities to accept Covid patients.
One committee member said it was “reasonable” to infer that the efforts to cover up the death count were linked to Cuomo’s $5.1 million book deal.
Criminal charges?
Though the assembly will not move forward with the impeachment, which could bar Cuomo from seeking office again, the report suggests that investigators shared information with law enforcement officials, which could lead to legal ramifications.
Commisso’s allegation has also triggered a criminal complaint against Cuomo in Albany.
He could also face criminal investigations in other New York counties and cities where the alleged sexual harassment incidents took place.
