FILE – New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks throughout a information convention on the Nationwide Press Membership in Washington, on Could 27, 2020. New York’s Legal professional Common Letitia James, on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, launched a whole bunch of pages of transcripts of interviews carried out throughout an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations that pressured Gov. Andrew Cuomo from workplace final summer season. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin, File) | Jacquelyn Martin/AP Picture, file
ALBANY, N.Y. — Prosecutors in Albany don’t plan to pursue legal prices against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after investigating an allegation that he had groped an aide in 2020.
Albany County District Legal professional David Soares mentioned in a press release Tuesday that he made the choice after coming to the conclusion he couldn’t show past an inexpensive doubt that Cuomo had damaged the legislation.
“Whereas many have an opinion relating to the allegations against the previous Governor, the Albany County DA’s Workplace is the one one who has a burden to show the weather of a criminal offense past an inexpensive doubt,” Soares mentioned. “Whereas we discovered the complainant on this case cooperative and credible, after assessment of all of the out there proof we have now concluded that we can not meet our burden at trial.“
A misdemeanor legal criticism was introduced against Cuomo in October over accusations he forcibly groped staffer Brittany Commisso within the state’s Government Mansion. Cuomo was scheduled to make his first courtroom look on the charge Friday.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple had promised “a strong case” and mentioned he had an “overwhelming quantity of proof” against Cuomo, however his case confronted issues from the beginning. Information of the criticism leaked earlier than any prosecutors knew it was being introduced, and Soares quickly said it had serious issues, reminiscent of a failure to incorporate proof of an “exculpatory nature.”
On Tuesday, Soares mentioned his workplace had notified the courts “that we’re declining to prosecute this matter and requesting the costs filed by the Albany County Sheriff be dismissed.” He famous, nevertheless, that his determination doesn’t shut the door on “any attainable civil legal responsibility.”
The groping allegation was the one legal charge that had been introduced against Cuomo in reference to the litany of sexual misconduct and different accusations he confronted final 12 months.
A number of different prosecutors in different counties have lately mentioned they won’t proceed to pursue investigations into different sexual misconduct allegations, and the Manhattan District Legal professional’s Workplace made clear on Monday it wouldn’t convey prices over Cuomo’s dealing with of knowledge associated to Covid-19 deaths in nursing properties.
Cuomo resigned in August after a report by the state lawyer normal corroborated quite a few sexual harassment allegations lodged by present and former workers.
