Groping accusation against Cuomo referred to Albany police

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

An allegation of groping made by an aide of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) who said he fondled her at the Executive Mansion last year has been referred to police in Albany.

Albany Police Department spokesperson Steven Smith told The New York Times on Thursday that the department received the referral Wednesday night by New York State Police after The Times Union of Albany published additional details of an account by a sixth woman who accused the governor of unwanted sexual behavior.

The aide did not file a formal complaint over the incident. Cuomo has denied the allegation.

Smith told The New York Times that the referral doesn't mean that the department has begun investigating, but that it has offered the victim services "as we would do with any other report or incident."

Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/542785-groping-accusation-against-cuomo-referred-to-albany-police%3famp

[pnwmom]

1. The NYT article is here.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/11/nyregion/cuomo-groping-accusation-albany-police.html

The governor’s acting counsel, Beth Garvey, confirmed the conversation, saying that she had initiated the call and reported the allegations, after a lawyer for the female aide told the governor’s office that the aide did not want to file a report.

“As a matter of state policy, when allegations of physical contact are made, the agency informs the complainant that they should contact their local police department,” Ms. Garvey said in a statement. “If they decline, the agency has an obligation to reach out themselves and inform the department of the allegation.”

“In this case, the person is represented by counsel and when counsel confirmed the client did not want to make a report, the state notified the police department and gave them the attorney’s information,” Ms. Garvey added.

SNIP

A female supervisor in the office became aware of the aide’s allegation on March 3 when Mr. Cuomo, following multiple allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, gave a televised apology in which he denied touching anyone inappropriately. The newspaper reported that the supervisor noticed the aide become emotional during the governor’s address and that the aide subsequently told the supervisor about her encounter with the governor.

[brooklynite]

2. Majority of Democratic Lawmakers call for Cuomo to step down

Link to tweet

[caber09]

3. Why not just let the investigation play out?

"In this case, the person is represented by counsel and when counsel confirmed the client did not want to make a report, the state notified the police department and gave them the attorney’s information,” Ms. Garvey added.

She didn't want to file a report but now she'll have to talk

[ancianita]

4. When they won't stand by their word -- "The aide did not file a formal complaint over the incident"

then I don't take their word over Cuomo's. No prior filings by any of these women means that this investigation must continue while "finding votes" to build a case.