New York taxpayers recently found themselves on the hook for nearly $500,000 due to a settlement involving former governor Andrew Cuomo. The agreement, reached on Friday, compensates Brittany Commisso, who served as Cuomo’s executive assistant from 2019 to 2021. She will receive $450,000—matching the amount that Charlotte Bennett, another accuser, settled for earlier in April.
Out of that sum, Commisso will take home $225,000, while her lawyers will collect the remaining $225,000.
In November 2023, one woman, a divorced mother, filed a lawsuit against both Cuomo and the state, alleging sexual harassment along with claims of retaliation and discrimination. Various accusations have surrounded Cuomo, including allegations of inappropriate conduct such as unwanted embraces and touching.
Commisso claims that during her time with Cuomo, he groped her within the executive apartment. Allegations like these even prompted a criminal case, which was ultimately dismissed by Albany County District Attorney in 2022.
She further stated that after reporting the alleged misconduct, she suffered consequences including demotion and reassignment by Governor Kathy Hochul’s staff. Additionally, Commisso alleged that her work life became untenable, and she was ostracized by her colleagues, influencing her career trajectory. Other state officials were also said to have contributed to the mistreatment she faced.
Her legal team expressed satisfaction with the settlement, viewing it as validation of her claims. They highlighted that several independent investigations—by the Attorney General, the state legislature, and the U.S. Department of Justice—concluded that Commisso was indeed subjected to sexual harassment and inappropriate touching during her employment with Cuomo.
Commisso’s lawyers, Mariann Wang and Kevin Mintzer, noted, “She is proud to have reported the truth, and we are pleased to see her rights affirmed in this process.” Conversely, Cuomo’s attorney dismissed the settlement as inconclusive evidence, asserting that the agreement was merely a means to avoid further legal battles.
Cuomo’s team argued that the settlement came without a recognition of liability and pointed out that it was significantly less than the amount initially sought by Commisso. They emphasized that the settlement should not be interpreted as an admission of wrongdoing from Cuomo, especially considering the prior dismissal of the criminal case against him.
Anthony Hogrebe, communications director for Governor Hochul, commented that the state is relieved to have settled the matter in a way that minimizes further costs for taxpayers.
Similarly, Charlotte Bennett had settled her case for $450,000 in April, receiving $100,000 directly while her legal team received the rest. Bennett claimed that Cuomo had sexually harassed her while she served as his assistant and accused him of lying about her allegations.
Bennett, now 29, is one of the few women to come forward publicly against the former governor, which contributed to a growing scandal that eventually forced him to step down in 2021. Cuomo, meanwhile, is attempting a political comeback by running for mayor of New York City as an independent, maintaining his innocence amid numerous allegations of misconduct.
