CNBC Television published this video item, entitled “Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo charged with misdemeanor sex crime” – below is their description.
NBC’s Tom Winter reports on charges being brought against former Governor Andrew Cuomo for forcible touching. For access to live and exclusive video from CNBC subscribe to CNBC PRO: https://cnb.cx/2NGeIvi
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was charged Thursday with a misdemeanor sex-crime complaint that alleges he forcibly touched a woman last Dec. 7 in the governor’s Executive Mansion in Albany.
The filing of that complaint in Albany City Court comes two months after Cuomo resigned in disgrace following accusations of sexual harassment against the three-term Democrat by nearly a dozen women, detailed in a damning report issued by state Attorney General Letitia James.
The city court issued a summons for Cuomo to appear in that court on the afternoon of Nov. 17, according to a press release issued Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple Sr, whose investigator signed the criminal complaint.
The complaint says that Cuomo, 63, intentionally, “and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly place his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim …. and onto her intimate body part.′
’Specifically, the [victim’s] left breast for the purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires.”
Forcible touching is a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, Cuomo could be sentenced up to a year in prison, to up to three years of probation.
The victim’s name was redacted from a copy of the complaint released by a spokesman for the New York state courts system.
But Apple has previously said he was investigating a complaint made in August by a female Cuomo staffer identified in James’ report as Executive Assistant #1.
A Cuomo assistant named Brittany Commisso later came forward to publicly identify herself in media interviews as the staffer who had told Apple’s investigators that Cuomo manhandled her and grabbed her breast in the Executive Mansion.
Commisso’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Apple, in a statement, said that his investigator went to court to “determine the most appropriate legal pathway moving for on the investigation” into Cuomo.
Apple said his investigators “have determined that there was enough probable cause to present evidence to the court.”
Albany County District Attorney David Soares, whose office is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases, in a statement said he had been unaware of Apple’s plans to lodge the complaint.
“Like the rest of the public, we were surprised to learn today that a criminal complaint was filed in Albany City Court by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office against Andrew Cuomo,” Soares said.
“The Office of Court Administration has since made that filing public. Our office will not be commenting further on this case,” said Soares, who is among at least five New York district attorneys whose have investigated possible crimes by Cuomo against women.
Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, in a written statement said, “Governor Cuomo has never assaulted anyone, and Sheriff Apple’s motives here are patently improper.”
“Sheriff Apple didn’t even tell the District Attorney what he was doing,” Glavin said. “But Apple’s behavior is no surprise given (1) his August 7 press conference where he essentially pronounced the Governor guilty before doing an investigation, and (2) his Office’s leaking of grand jury information. This is not professional law enforcement; this is politics.”
Apple on Aug. 7 had said that Cuomo could face a possible misdemeanor charge for his conduct toward Executive Assistant #1.
James, a Democrat who reportedly is preparing to run for governor herself, in a statement, said, “From the moment my office received the referral to investigate allegations that former Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, we proceeded without fear or favor.”
“The criminal charges brought today against Mr. Cuomo for forcible touching further validate the findings in our report,” James said.
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