New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could face misdemeanor charges if investigators corroborate a criminal complaint alleging he groped an aide last year, the Albany County Sheriff said Saturday.
Sheriff Craig Apple promised a "very thorough" investigation, but said it would be premature to commit to a timetable or say whether Cuomo himself will be questioned.
"We have a lot of inquiries to do. We have a lot of interviews to do and, you know what,
I'm not going to rush because of who he is and I'm not going to delay who he is.
We're going to do a very thorough investigation, as my investigators and my staff always do." Apple told reporters on Saturday.
The indictment, filed this week,
is the first known case in which a woman files an official complaint with a law enforcement agency
for alleged misconduct by the Democratic governor.
[Joe Biden calls for the resignation of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, following an investigation that indicates him sexually harassing several women]
The former aide says Cuomo reached under her shirt and stroked her when they were alone in a room at the executive mansion last year.
The woman also told investigators at the attorney general's office that Cuomo once rubbed her butt while they posed together for a photo.
Cuomo's attorney, Rita Glavin, has said the accusation was fabricated.
63% of New York Voters Believe Governor Andrew Cuomo Should Resign
Aug. 4, 202101: 55
"He is 63 years old. He has spent 40 years in public life and suddenly being accused of sexual assault by an executive assistant whom he really does not know is not acceptable," Glavin said.
Apple declined to make the complaint public on Saturday, but described the allegation as
"sexual in nature"
and said its office has a "proven track record" of helping victims.
He added that he does not fear retaliation for going ahead with such a high-profile investigation.
"Obviously, this is a very high-profile investigation. There is a lot of information out there," Apple said.
[Political support for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo plummets as a third woman accuses him of sexual harassment]
"I am the county sheriff. I am not going to be intimidated. I am not going to be coerced," he said.
"That would not be good for anyone."
Refuses to resign despite pressure
Cuomo has faced further calls to resign after an independent investigation overseen by the state attorney general's office found that he
sexually harassed 11 women
and that he worked to
retaliate against one of his accusers.
The attorney general's report describes a series of times Cuomo allegedly acted inappropriately with the assistant described as Executive Assistant No. 1, culminating in the groping encounter at the mansion in November 2020.
Apple said it has requested investigative materials from the attorney general's office.
"I think we've all read the attorney general's report," he said.
"At this point I feel very comfortable and safe saying that she is, in fact, a victim."
Cuomo has flatly denied ever touching the woman's breasts
, saying that "he would have to lose his mind to do something like that."
The judicial committee of the state Assembly is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the possibility of initiating impeachment proceedings against Cuomo.
Nearly two-thirds of the legislature have already said they are in favor of an impeachment trial if he does not resign.
James' report described the alleged groping incident as "a pattern of inappropriate behavior" with the aide that began in late 2019.
[The governor of New York sexually harassed several women, according to a prosecution investigation]
Throughout Saturday's press conference, the sheriff repeatedly referred to the woman as a "victim."
When asked about the use of that term, Apple referred to James's report.
They demand impeachment to remove Andrew Cuomo after being accused of sexual harassment
Aug. 4, 202100: 36
"I think we have all read the attorney general's report. I think we know what it contains. At this point, I feel very comfortable and safe in assuring that she is indeed a victim," he said.
Cuomo has not been charged with any crime.
When asked about possible charges on Saturday, Apple said: "I don't think it's appropriate for me to respond at this point. What I've read so far I can tell you that we are floating around a misdemeanor."
"But again that is only from the attorney general's report," he continued, adding that his office has not had an in-depth interview with the accuser.
Following Apple's press conference, James' office issued a statement.
"We will cooperate fully with the Albany Sheriff and deliver all evidence related to this whistleblower
," his office said in the statement.
"Similarly, we will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, as appropriate."
With information from AP and NBC News.