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Former NY Governor Cuomo cops misdemeanour sex offence charge
Former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo has been charged with a misdemeanour sex offence filed on Thursday
The criminal complaint charging Mr Cuomo with a misdemeanour sex offence was filed in an Albany Sheriff’s office on Thursday, the first prosecution case stemming from a misconduct scandal which led to his resignation.
The filing from the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, accusing Cuomo of groping a woman under her blouse, was first confirmed by a spokesman for the New York state courts, Lucian Chalfen.
In an emailed statement, Chalfen referred to an alleged “sex crime” committed by Mr Cuomo.
Representatives for the former Governor of New York weren’t anywhere to be seen when the news broke, with local media reports stating enquiries went unanswered.
63 year-old Cuomo stepped down as New York Governor two months ago under mounting legal pressures and calls to resign made by fellow Democrats – including US President Joe Biden.
The district attorney for Albany County, David Soares, issued a statement suggesting that the sheriff’s office had acted independently of local prosecutors
“Like the rest of the public, we were surprised to learn today that a criminal complaint was filed in Albany City Court by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office against Andrew Cuomo,” Soares stated, adding that his office would comment no further.
A copy of the complaint posted online by WNBC-TV media network in New York stated that Cuomo engaged in the misdemeanour offence of “forcible touching” on the date of December 7, 2020, at the governor’s Executive Mansion by placing “his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim, and onto her intimate body part.”
The complaint details that Mr Cuomo then “fondled” the woman’s breasts “for purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires”
The name of the woman making the complaint against Cuomo has been suppressed for legal reasons.