A New York state trooper who testified that former Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her is now suing him. She says Cuomo, a top aide and state police violated her civil rights. The trooper's name was not disclosed in the lawsuit, which was filed in Manhattan Thursday.
Cuomo resigned in August, days after an independent probe found he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers. Several district attorneys in New York said they found Cuomo’s accusers “credible,” but said the available evidence wasn’t strong enough to file criminal charges against him. The lawsuit against Cuomo, the State Police and Cuomo’s former top aide Melissa DeRosa comes from the accuser known as “Trooper 1” in Attorney General Letitia James’ independent report.
Cuomo told investigators that he would hug the female trooper hello, and that he “may have touched her shoulder.” He said he didn’t remember running his fingers down her back or touching her stomach. The trooper's lawsuit claims former aide DeRosa helped “cover up” Cuomo's sexual harassment. The Albany Times Union reported the trooper in question advanced too quickly to the governor’s detail for her experience, and that a Cuomo ally in state government ordered the move.
Later, Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi was added as a party to the suit.
Azzopardi said in a statement that “the claim relies on the AG’s proven fraud of a report” and added “Cuomo will fight every attempt at cheap cash extortions and is anxious to have the dirty politics stop…we look forward to justice in a court of law.” A lawyer for DeRosa called the suit beyond frivolous.
To be clear: I'm not afraid of these ambulance-chasing hucksters. This is clearly protected free speech that is supported by actual facts; and while I'm no lawyer there is no way this thing against me is not going to get laughed out of court.
— Rich Azzopardi (@RichAzzopardi) February 18, 2022
With Associated Press. All Rights Reserved 2022.
