Cuomo’s Legal Battles Criticized by New York Judge
A New York judge sharply criticized former governor Andrew Cuomo for using taxpayer funds to defend himself against sexual harassment allegations.
This strong rebuke came when Albany Supreme Court Judge Dennis Hartman dismissed the case brought by Cuomo’s former executive assistant, Brittany Comisso, who sought $450,000 from the state last month.
Hartman noted that Cuomo failed to present any compelling reasons for taxpayers to continue funding efforts aimed at rehabilitating his public image by pursuing civil litigation. He emphasized that the judge’s role in the case was not meant to facilitate Cuomo’s extravagant legal strategy.
While Hartman may have ended the case, he doesn’t support Cuomo’s continued expenditure of New Yorkers’ money on his legal defense.
State data indicates that taxpayers have already paid over $20 million to cover Cuomo’s legal expenses related to sexual harassment claims, raising concerns over the appropriateness of his legal strategy.
Overall, the expenses incurred by taxpayers for Cuomo’s legal battles are estimated at around $60 million, an amount that includes costs related to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his controversial book deal.
Cuomo resigned in 2021 amid a slew of sexual harassment accusations. He has steadfastly denied these claims, alleging that the investigation led by state Attorney General Leticia James was politically motivated.
Following lawsuits from Comisso and other women, Cuomo had requested the state to fund his defense, given that he was in office when the accusations surfaced.
The legal costs tied to the Comisso case alone reportedly amount to at least $724,000.
Cuomo attempted to persuade the judge to release some of Comisso’s text messages, claiming they could cast doubt on her allegations.
However, Judge Hartman remained unconvinced, especially as Cuomo seeks to use these messages for political advantage ahead of the upcoming mayoral election in New York City. After losing significant ground in the Democratic primary to Zoran Mamdani, Cuomo is now running as an independent.
Hartman expressed concern that the release of such messages could skew public perception regarding the validity of Comisso’s claims.
Moreover, the judge asserted that Cuomo’s arguments for public disclosure do not justify undermining the integrity of the plaintiff’s accusations.
Cuomo can still pursue text messages in ongoing lawsuits involving state troopers who accused him of inappropriate touching.
Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, continued to assert that the absence of Comisso’s text messages undermines her claims, suggesting she settled her case hastily to avoid scrutiny.
Azzopardi claimed this quick settlement followed her obligation to produce the messages, arguing the public deserves transparency regarding the evidence. He expressed Cuomo’s commitment to fighting for the release of all related information, reiterating that the former governor denies any wrongdoing and distrusts the Attorney General’s findings.
Judge Hartman also scrutinized Cuomo’s position regarding the settlement, noting that the $450,000 amount was the same accepted by another former state executive, Charlotte Bennett, to resolve her allegations against Cuomo. He pointed out that Cuomo’s current stance fails to acknowledge this prior settlement.
