Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been charged with a misdemeanor sex crime for allegedly groping his former aide last year in the governor’s Executive Mansion in Albany.
The Democrat was charged on Thursday (Oct. 28) in Albany City Court. The complaint says that Cuomo intentionally, “and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly place his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim …. and onto her intimate body party. Specifically, the victim’s left breast for the purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires.”
The charge comes just two months after Cuomo resigned as governor following accusations of sexual harassment by multiple women.
More than 10 women who worked for the former governor came forward with sexual harassment claims. Cuomo did admit to making inappropriate jokes and giving out kisses and hugs, saying that his “sense of humor can be insensitive.” However, he denied sexually harassing anyone.
On Aug. 10, Cuomo announced that he would be resigning so that he would not be a distraction from real issues occurring in the state. “New York tough means New York loving, and I love New York and I love you,” he previously said. “I would never want to be unhelpful in any way, and I think given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let the government get back to governing, and therefore, that’s what I’ll do.”
Mariann Wang, an attorney for two women who accused Cuomo of misconduct, praised the news of his sex crime charge. “My clients are enormously grateful for the courage of the women who have come forward to speak the truth about Cuomo’s misconduct,” she said in a statement Thursday. “Cuomo is being held to account as he should be, including by being forced to answer a criminal charge. We hope that all men who abuse their power by abusing women will see this and understand that there will be real consequences to their profoundly damaging behavior.”
If convicted, Cuomo could be sentenced to up to a year in prison and up to three years of probation.