In this file photo taken on May 26, 2020 Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo speaks during a press conference at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at Wall Street in New York City. AFP
NEW YORK — A county prosecutor in New York
has decided not to bring criminal charges against Andrew Cuomo,
the state’s former governor, over accusations he kissed two
women against their will.
Westchester District Attorney Miriam Rocah said in a
statement on Tuesday that despite credible evidence supporting
the women’s complaints, they did not meet the statutory
requirements for bringing criminal charges.
A lawyer for Cuomo did not immediately respond to a request
for comment.
A Democrat who ran New York for a decade, Cuomo resigned in
August after multiple women who worked for him accused him of
unwanted sexual advances and contact. He denied touching anyone
inappropriately and said his efforts to be a friendly boss may
have been misinterpreted as flirtation.
He also faced investigations over his office’s efforts to
mask from lawmakers the extent of COVID-19 deaths in nursing
homes. A state ethics board later concluded he improperly used
state employees to help write a book about his leadership
skills, for which he received a $5.1 million advance.
He resigned after the office of New York Attorney General
Letitia James issued a damning report that concluded Cuomo
sexually harassed 11 women. Several county prosecutors said they
would investigate complaints in their jurisdictions.
In one of the encounters investigated by Westchester County,
a female state trooper said she was on duty in the security
detail outside Cuomo’s home in Mount Kisco when she asked the
governor in the driveway if he needed anything.
She said Cuomo asked if he could kiss her. She said she
feared ramifications if she denied the governor’s request, and
answered: “Sure.”
In the second episode, a woman said Cuomo grabbed her arm,
pulled her toward him and kissed her on the cheek without her
consent.
The U.S. Department of Justice also opened an investigation
into the complaints of workplace sexual harassment by Cuomo,
according to records released by state lawmakers this month.