Stefanik, James talk Cuomo as lawyer asks Albany sheriff to save investigation records
FILE – Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple speaks during a news meeting at the Albany County Sheriff office environment following a criminal criticism was filed charging previous New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with a misdemeanor sex offense, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021, in New Scotland, N.Y. A lawyer for Cuomo wants the sheriff to maintain records of any communications his place of work has had with the alleged sufferer, journalists or other investigators. (AP Picture/Hans Pennink, File)
NEW YORK (AP/WWTI) — A lawyer for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’ desires the sheriff who charged the Democrat with groping a female to protect records of any communications his business experienced with the alleged target, journalists, or other investigators.
A metropolis court docket in Albany this 7 days issued a summons charging Cuomo with forcible touching following a felony complaint was submitted by Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple. Cuomo has claimed that the demand was based on flimsy evidence and was politically motivated.
In a letter to Apple on Saturday, Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin demanded that the sheriff’s office environment protect all data similar to the scenario, which includes any notes of conversations it experienced with the girl who accused the ex-governor of groping her, Brittany Commisso. Prison defendants are entitled to a wide scope of proof and other substance similar to an investigation, which is ordinarily turned about before trial.
A preservation letter is a normal lawful tactic. The letter also asked for data of any communications with two legal groups that investigated Cuomo’s perform, one particular that worked for the state Assembly and a further for Legal professional Standard Letitia James.
For her element, James stated that the misdemeanor cost aided validate the sexual harassment report led by her business office previously this yr:
“From the instant my workplace obtained the referral to investigate allegations that previous Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed various women of all ages, we proceeded without the need of anxiety or favor. The felony charges brought now towards Mr. Cuomo for forcible touching more validate the results in our report.”
Cuomo resigned from workplace in August right after investigators operating for James authored a report concluding he experienced sexually harassed 11 girls, which includes Commisso. The investigation observed that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile operate environment” that was “rife with anxiety and intimidation.” Investigators spoke with 179 men and women and reviewed 74,000 pieces of evidence.
James introduced Friday that she will run for governor. Cuomo’s group has accused her of purposely disregarding evidence in his favor for the reason that she preferred him out of place of work.
At a news conference Friday, Apple stated he was confident in the power of the situation and insisted politics played no role. He also named the governor’s operatives “bullies.”
In the meantime on Friday in the North Region, Rep. Elise Stefanik—among the top rated Republican lawmakers in the country—released a assertion contacting for Cuomo’s arrest. “[The] announcement that criminal fees are getting brought towards serial sexual predator and disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo for sexual assault fees is a move in the proper path. Justice should be served…Corrupt Cuomo and his hacks belong behind bars,” she stated, and ongoing:
Regrettably, this is just a single of several crimes committed by sexual predator Andrew Cuomo in the course of his time in business office. If New Yorkers are to feel there is equivalent justice underneath the law, Cuomo and those who assisted him have to also be arrested and prosecuted for their prison acts masking up the tragic fatalities of countless susceptible seniors in nursing houses.
