By Dareh Gregorian and Adam Reiss - NBC News
A former executive assistant to Andrew Cuomo, who previously reported that he had put his hands under her blouse to touch her,
filed a criminal complaint against the governor of New York.
The woman, identified only as "Executive Assistant # 1" in the state attorney general's report, Letitia James, which includes multiple cases of sexual harassment by the Democratic governor, filed the complaint Thursday with the county Sheriff's Office. Albany, a spokesperson said in an interview with NBC News.
[Joe Biden calls for the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, following an investigation that indicates him sexually harassing several women]
The content of the complaint has not been released publicly and
Cuomo has not yet been charged with any crime.
The November 2020 incident, which
according to the independent investigation led by the attorney general happened at the governor's mansion in Albany
, was previously being investigated by the Albany County district attorney.
Cuomo has denied the incident and vehemently insists he did nothing wrong, refuting all allegations in the report.
Cuomo's spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, pointed to a document released by the governor's office refuting James's report, calling the aide's testimony "inconceivable."
[Political support for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo plummets as a third woman accuses him of sexual harassment]
"It would be an act of madness for the governor, who is 63 years old and knows that his life is subject to public scrutiny, would touch the breasts of an employee in full working day in the office of his mansion," he says.
James' report described the alleged groping incident as
"a pattern of inappropriate behavior"
with the aide that began in late 2019.
“That pattern of behavior included: (1) close and intimate hugs;
(2)
kisses on the cheeks, forehead, and at least one kiss on the lips
;
(3) touching and grabbing Executive Assistant # 1's butt during hugging and, on one occasion, while taking selfies with him;
and (4) comments and jokes from the governor about the personal life and relationships of Executive Assistant # 1, ”says the report that assures that this pattern culminated in the incident at the governor's mansion, where the assistant was summoned by Cuomo.
[The governor of New York sexually harassed several women, according to a prosecution investigation]
The report says the aide was silent about the incident for three months and planned to take it "to the grave" until her colleagues saw her get emotional "as she watched the governor declare, in a press conference held on March 3, 2021, that he never 'touched anyone inappropriately.'
David Soares, the Albany County prosecutor, had been investigating those claims and others, but on Tuesday he told NBC News' Lester Holt that the investigations had been temporarily suspended while James conducted his investigation, and asked him to send him his evidence afterward. the report was published.
He also urged the victims to testify.
“
It is necessary that a formal complaint be made.
We have made proposals and efforts to make contact with some people.
But that has not happened and as you know, Lester, these cases are resolved with the cooperation of the victims, "said Soares.
[New York State leaders demand the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo, following new accusations against him]
In addition to Soares's office, the Westchester and Manhattan district attorney's offices contacted the Attorney General about incidents mentioned in James's report that allegedly occurred in their jurisdictions.
The 165-page report alleged that Cuomo had violated state and federal law by sexually harassing 11 women, including 9 state employees.