Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed a lawsuit against the state’s Attorney General, Letitia James, on Thursday in a bid to get access to statements from a sexual misconduct probe launched against him.
“Governor Cuomo has repeatedly asked the OAG for the requested materials since the report was released more than two years ago, but respondent James has steadfastly refused to produce the evidence despite her August 3, 2021, public promise to release it,” the complaint reads.
The complaint states that Ms. James’s refusal to release the requested materials “has been and continues to be a denial of fundamental due process.”
Mr. Cuomo argued that he needs the witness statements to defend himself in two sexual harassment lawsuits that “stem directly” from the attorney general’s investigation and subsequent report.
“Governor Cuomo vehemently denies having sexually harassed anyone, and the witness statements relating to the allegations in both actions are critical to his defense,” it stated.
Mr. Cuomo said “the public has both a right and interest in knowing” about the work of Ms. James’s “full basis” in making the decisions to issue “the consequential report” that led to his resignation in 2021.
“The report was a one-sided, deeply flawed ambush of Governor Cuomo, who denies having sexually harassed anyone,” his lawsuit reads.
The Epoch Times has reached out to the attorney general’s office for comments.
Mr. Cuomo and his senior staff also allegedly took actions to retaliate against at least one former employee for coming forward with her story.
“I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth.
“No man—no matter how powerful—can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period,” the attorney general said at the time.
A total of 179 complainants, current and former members of the Executive Chamber, State Troopers, state employees, and others who interacted regularly with Mr. Cuomo were interviewed over the course of the investigation.
More than 74,000 documents, emails, texts, and pictures were also reviewed as evidence during the investigation, according to the attorney general.
Ms. Commisso alleged that Mr. Cuomo continuously subjected her to “humiliating and demeaning tasks, hugs, kisses, sexual touching of the buttocks, and forcible touching of the breast” during her tenure.
Mr. Cuomo’s attorney, Rita M. Glavin, has denied the allegations and called Ms. Commisso’s lawsuit a “cash grab” attempt.
