Former NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Accused Of Sexual Harassment

NEW YORK CITY — An executive assistant for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday filed a summons accusing him of sexual harassment and retaliation, court records show.

Brittany Commisso, who worked in the governor's Executive Chamber from 2019 to 2021, contends Cuomo "continuously subjected" her to sexual advances, touching and inappropriate sexual questioning — and stripped her of work on her denial, according to a summons filed Wednesday in Albany County Supreme Court.

In a statement to Patch, Cuomo's lawyer called the accusation "provably false."

"Ms. Commisso’s transparent attempt at a cash grab will fail. We look forward to seeing her in court,” said Rita Glavin, Cuomo's laywer.

Commisso publicly came forward with harassment claims in 2021, detailing her fear to CBS News.

“I was afraid that if I had to come forward and revealed my name, that the governor and his enablers, I like to call them, would viciously attack me, would smear my name, as I had seen and heard them do before to people,” Commisso said in the 2021 interview.

The summons comes the same day Mayor Eric Adams was accused of sexually assaulting a woman when the two worked for the city in 1993.

Both summons' came in just ahead of the deadline for lawsuits under the state's Adult Survivors Act.

In Aug. 2021, an investigation by state Attorney General Letitia James's office found Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women, violating federal and state laws, James said.

"We find that the Governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women," investigators wrote.

The same month, Cuomo announced his resignation but still denied some of the accusations.

"Given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing," Cuomo said of his resignation.

"In my mind, I've never crossed the line with anyone. But I didn't realize the extent to which the line has been redrawn."

A year later, a misdemeanor criminal charge filed against the former governor was dropped by the Albany District Attorney — who said the accusation was credible but insufficient to meet evidence requirements in trial, CNBC reported.

Glavin noted this dismissal in her statement to Patch.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for updates.