Former N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo Plans To Sue Aide Who Accused Him Of Sexual Harassment

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has plans to sue the woman who accused him of sexual harassment for defamation, claiming she instigated “a cascade of harm” and ruined him “both personally and professionally.”

Cuomo resigned in 2021 after a report by the state attorney general concluded he had sexually harassed a minimum of 11 women. The U.S. Department of Justice concluded a separate investigation which found that Cuomo fostered a sexually hostile work environment for at least 13 employees, and his staff regularly retaliated against the women who filed complaints.

In 2021, Cuomo’s former aide Charlotte Bennett came forward to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment; Cuomo denied the allegations and Bennett filed lawsuits over the misconduct in state and federal courts. 

Bennett voluntarily withdrew her federal lawsuit against Cuomo earlier this month before her scheduled deposition. Her attorney Debra S. Katz released a public statement with Bennett on X, in which she firmly maintained that Cuomo had sexually harassed Bennett. 

In the statement issued on December 9, Bennett stated, “Former Governor Andrew Cuomo can no longer use this lawsuit to harass me and my family. His abusive filings and invasive subpoenas are meant to humiliate and retaliate against me and those who have supported me over the last five years of this living nightmare…Throughout this extraordinarily painful two-year case, I’ve many times believed that I’d be better off dead than endure more of his litigation abuse, which has caused extraordinary pain and expense to my family and friends. I desperately need to live my life. That’s the choice I am making today.”

Cuomo has dismissed all accusations as politically motivated attacks and in a summons and notice filed Thursday morning, insisted Bennett dismissed her suit “to shield the overwhelming evidence of her false claims from ever becoming public.” 

Katz responded later on Thursday with a statement, “There is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish accusers of sexual harassment. It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has apparently now chosen to go down that path.”

Cuomo is reportedly considering running for mayor of New York City. His ex-aid Brittany Commisso called this desire to reenter a political leadership role “sad.”

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