Former aide files criminal sexual harassment complaint against Cuomo

Filed with the Albany County Sheriff's Office, the woman's complaint marks the first known instance of an official report lodged against Cuomo over alleged sexual misconduct, according to the Associated Press. "We take every complaint seriously," said Albany County Undersheriff William Rice on Friday.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple told the New York Post that it is possible the governor could be arrested if investigators or attorneys determine that a crime has been committed. "The end result could either be it sounds substantiated and an arrest is made and it would be up to the DA to prosecute the arrest," Apple said. "Just because of who it is we are not going to rush it or delay it."

The woman, identified as Executive Assistant #1 in the New York attorney general's office report, alleges that on Nov. 16 2020, Cuomo reached under her blouse to cup her breast after a hug. According to the report, the former aide told Cuomo that "You're going to get us in trouble," to which Cuomo replied, "I don't care," and slammed the door shut. He then "slid his hand up her blouse, and grabbed her breast, 'cupp[ing her] breast' over her bra."

"I mean it was—he was like cupping my breast. He cupped my breast. I have to tell you it was—at the moment I was in such shock that I could just tell you that I just remember looking down seeing his hand, seeing the top of my bra and I remember it was like a little even the cup—the kind of bra that I had to the point I could tell you doesn't really fit me properly, it was a little loose, I just remember seeing exactly that," the unnamed woman told investigators.

Following the incident, she pulled away and told Cuomo, "You're crazy."

Initially, the woman said that she had not responded "more forcefully or told anyone about the incident," because she feared losing her job.

Cuomo denies the incident happening, telling investigators: "To touch a woman's breast who I hardly know, in the Mansion, with ten staff around, with my family in the Mansion, to say 'I don't care who sees us.' ... I would have to lose my mind to do such a thing." Prosecutors in several New York counties told the Associated Press that they're interested in investigating the claims made against Cuomo, but that they need the women involved to make formal reports.

The results of the investigation report and the new criminal investigation come as state lawmakers have signaled the potential for impeachment proceedings over the allegations laid forth. Lawyers working for the state Assembly sent a letter to Cuomo on Thursday giving him until Aug. 13 to respond to the sexual harassment allegations levied against him, according to the Associated Press.

Nearly two-thirds of the legislative body have signaled that they favor an impeachment trial if Cuomo does not resign.