The state of New York agreed Friday to pay $450,000 to settle a lawsuit from an ex-aide to former Gov. Andrew Cuomo who alleged Cuomo sexually harassed and groped her whereas he was in workplace.
The previous aide, Brittany Commisso, had sued Cuomo and the state, alleging sexual harassment from the then-governor and retaliation in opposition to her after reporting the incidents. The allegations had been a part of a barrage comparable misconduct claims that compelled Cuomo to resign as governor in 2021.
Commisso’s legal professionals stated the settlement “is a complete vindication of her claims” and that Commisso is “glad to be able to move forward with her life.”
The settlement got here as Cuomo is within the midst of a so-far bruising political comeback with a run for mayor of New York Metropolis. Cuomo misplaced the Democratic major to Zohran Mamdani by greater than 12 proportion factors and this week relaunched his marketing campaign to run within the basic election as an impartial candidate, starting a doubtlessly uphill battle in a closely Democratic metropolis the place assist is coalescing behind Mamdani.
Cuomo, who has denied wrongdoing, has been dogged by the scandal throughout his marketing campaign for mayor.
“The settlement is not a vindication, it is capitulation to avoid the truth,” Cuomo’s lawyers said Friday in a statement in which they called Commisso’s allegations “false.”
The attorneys, Rita Glavin and Theresa Trzaskoma, added that they “oppose the dismissal of Ms. Commisso’s lawsuit.”
“Until the truth is revealed, the lawsuit should not be dismissed,” they stated within the assertion.
Cuomo resigned as governor after a report from the state lawyer basic decided that he had sexually harassed at the very least 11 ladies, with some alleging undesirable kissing and touching, in addition to remarks about their appearances and intercourse lives.
Commisso filed her lawsuit in late 2023, simply earlier than the expiration of the Grownup Survivors Act, a particular regulation that created a yearlong suspension of the standard time restrict to sue over an alleged sexual assault.
She later filed a prison criticism accusing Cuomo of groping her however a neighborhood district lawyer declined to prosecute, citing lack of adequate proof.
The Related Press doesn’t establish individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted except they resolve to inform their tales publicly, as Commisso has finished.
Anthony Hogrebe, a spokesperson for present Gov. Kathy Hochul, stated Friday that the state “is happy to have settled this matter in a manner that enables us to attenuate additional prices to taxpayers.”
