Allegations of Sexual Abuse Cover-Up Involving Andrew Cuomo’s Brother-in-Law
Recent accusations have emerged against Andrew Cuomo’s brother-in-law, Brian O’Donoghue, and his campaign team, alleging they concealed sexual abuse claims against an employee at the Aviator Sports Complex.
O’Donoghue, married to former Governor Cuomo’s sister Madeline and currently leading the Cuomo Mayor’s Campaign, is mentioned in court documents concerning an ongoing lawsuit linked to the sports complex.
The lawsuit, initiated by Nicole Comitto, alleges retaliation after she reported sexual abuse allegations against fellow gymnastics coach Craig Brown. Comitto claims that in September 2019, she was informed that three girls from Aviator’s gymnastics program alleged inappropriate touching by Brown during training.
Comitto states in her filing with the Brooklyn Supreme Court that she reported these claims to her supervisor, only to be dismissed as unfounded. She recalls a feeling of frustration, saying, “It just makes things worse.” The following day, she voiced concerns through colleagues about her ability to work amid an investigation by the National Park Police, which oversees the facility.
Eight days after her complaint, Comitto was told that her work schedule would be modified due to the ongoing investigation. During this time, she claims the Aviator continued to support Brown, even seeking his input once the inquiry began.
The initial complaint from 2021 accused Aviator’s management company, Arklow-FBF LLC, of breaching city human rights laws by terminating her employment following her allegations. Attorneys subsequently added claims of insurance fraud against O’Donoghue, who is also a managing member of Arklow-FBF LLC.
Comitto accuses O’Donoghue and his team of actively trying to push for her dismissal following her report. The complaint states they failed to promptly inform their insurance of the allegations and are making efforts to block her potential claims against their liability insurance.
“They sought to terminate her employment despite being warned that doing so would be illegal retaliation,” the lawsuit notes.
Furthermore, during the case’s discovery phase, it was alleged that O’Donoghue and another colleague took deliberate actions to prevent Comitto from benefiting from the insurance agreement related to employment practices.
In response to the situation, O’Donoghue mentioned he had “no comment” on the allegations, stating they would be addressed in court. A lawyer for Arklow dismissed the claims, asserting there’s no basis for them, highlighting that federal investigations didn’t find any substantial evidence.
A spokesperson from the National Park Service confirmed that the investigation into the abuse allegations remains open but did not provide additional comments. Brown, who has not been charged with any crime, remains unreachable for a statement.
According to O’Donoghue’s deposition, one of the parents of the alleged victims reportedly echoed the claims after seeing footage where the young girl inadvertently hit her chest.
Attempts to reach the accused and their families for comment have been unsuccessful. One parent reportedly even attempted to reach out to another family involved but declined to speak, wishing to avoid further trauma.
Additionally, the parents of another accuser have signed an affidavit, alleging that the Aviator mishandled the accusations. They assert that the facility engaged in a cover-up to protect Brown, ultimately disregarding the well-being of the students and their families.
