Andrew Cuomo Could Face Misdemeanor Charge, Albany County Sheriff Says

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo could face a possible misdemeanor charge after a former executive assistant filed a criminal complaint against him earlier this week.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple told reporters Saturday (August 7) that the department is in the "infant stages" of its investigation and that the criminal complaint made against Cuomo is "criminal in nature" and that he is accused of conduct deemed to be "sexual in nature," ABC News reports.

The woman, identified in a recent report from New York State Attorney General Letitia James as "Executive Assistant # 1," filed the complaint with the Albany County Sheriff's Office on Thursday (August 5), a spokesperson for the sheriff confirmed.

ABC News reports the accuser claimed Gov. Cuomo touched her breast during an alleged incident at the governor's state residence in 2020.

On Tuesday (August 3), The New York Times obtained the 165-page report accusing Cuomo, a third-term Democrat governor, and his aids of creating a toxic work environment in which his office commonly used fear and intimidation tactics to enable “harassment to occur and created a hostile work environment,” according to state attorney general Letitia James.

In the report, "Executive Assistant #1" is reported to have been the victim of "a pattern of inappropriate conduct" by Cuomo beginning in late 2019.

"That pattern of conduct included: (1) close and intimate hugs; (2) kisses on the cheeks, forehead, and at least one kiss on the lips; (3) touching and grabbing of Executive Assistant #1’s butt during hugs and, on one occasion, while taking selfies with him; and (4) comments and jokes by the Governor about Executive Assistant #1’s personal life and relationships," the report said, resulting in a November 2020 incident at the governor's mansion, where the accuser said she'd been summoned by Cuomo.

James referred to revelations made in the report as "a deeply disturbing, yet clear picture” of the governor's office and “conduct that corrodes the very fabric and character of our state government and shine lights on injustice that can be present at the highest levels of government.”

The findings in the report add fuel to calls for impeachment against the third-term governor in the Democrat-controlled New York State Legislature, as well as additional calls for his resignation amid reports that he could be considering a fourth term.

Outside lawyers hired by the Assembly's judiciary committee are investigating sexual harassment claims made against the governor, as well as other scandals in which Cuomo is accused of abusing his power while in office.

Joon H. Kim, a former top federal prosecutor, and Anne L. Clark, a noted employment lawyer, were both hired by James as outside attorneys in connection to the investigation of accusations against Gov. Cuomo.

“Our investigation revealed that these were not isolated incidents,” Mr. Kim said on Tuesday via the New York Times. “They were part of a pattern.”