Aug 9, 2021
Criminal Complaint Filed Against Governor Andrew Cuomo
A criminal complaint was filed against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. In a press conference Saturday the Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says it “could lead to a misdemeanor or a couple”.
The complaint was filed by the Governor’s former aide named Executive Assistant 1 in the report from the New York Attorney General. She is one of 11 women who has accused the Governor of sexual harassment. Executive assistant number one filed the complaint only days after the Attorney General report became public. The report found the Governor had “engaged in a pattern of inappropriate conduct”.
Albany County sheriff Craig Apple says his office will now undertake a criminal investigation based off of the aide’s complaint. Apple did detail some of the next steps in this process but he did say his office needs to investigate more before they can make a determination about possible criminal charges.
“We’re not going to rush this because of who he is. We’re not gonna delay it because of who he is,” Apple said. “We’re going to conduct a very comprehensive investigation, and when the facts and all the data and the evidence is compiled, we’ll make a decision at that point.”
Sheriff Apple did tell reporters that based off of the Attorney General’s report there is a possibility of a misdemeanor charge or charges. Sheriff Apple added that the investigation could also lead to an arrest of The Governor. “What I have read so far I can say that, you know, we’re floating around a misdemeanor, but again, that’s just from the attorney general’s report,” Sheriff Apple said.
Sheriff Apple did say this office does plan on doing a lengthy interview with the victim and does plan on conducting an investigation to gather more information that was not in the Attorney General’s report.
Fabien Levy press secretary and senior advisor to the New York attorney General released a statement Saturday afternoon saying “We will cooperate fully with the Albany sheriff and turn over all evidence related to this complainant. Similarly, we will cooperate with all law enforcement agencies, as appropriate.”
Sheriff Apple commended the 11 women who came forward with allegations against the governor. “I had a female victim come forward, which had to be the hardest thing she’s ever done in her life, and make an allegation of criminal conduct against the governor,” Apple said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to help her.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo is losing more and more support from Democrats, with currently more than 40 members, including President Biden, telling him to resign.
The New York Assembly warned the Governor’s lawyer that they were nearing the end of their impeachment investigations, and any evidence they want to submit to the Judiciary Committee needs to be done by the end of this week, August 13th. Cuomo’s team has said he will cooperate and work with the New York State Assembly for the investigation.
