Disgraced former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo subpoenaed a number of women who accused him of sexual harassment in an effort to clear his name as he pursues a civil suit.
Cuomo sent subpoenas to Virginia Limmiatis, Brittany Commisso, Ana Liss, Alyssa McGrath, Lindsey Boylan, five of the 11 women who accused him of sexual misconduct.
The 65-year-old resigned in 2021 amid an investigation into his conduct by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Cuomo’s subpoenas seek records of that investigation and also call for the women to testify about their allegations, the prosecution said. Wall Street Journal.
The subpoenas, which were sent in March and April, are likely part of Cuomo’s defense against a federal lawsuit brought by a state agent – known as Trooper 1 – who said the governor touched her inappropriately while she worked on his security detail. The suit discovery deadline is set for July.
Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor of New York in 2021, but has always maintained his innocence despite a barrage of sexual misconduct allegations
Prosecutor Virginia Limmiatis testifies on her allegations against Andrew Cuomo
Brittany Commisso gives testimonial about Andrew Cuomo. She is one of the women he subpoenaed
Cuomo previously tried to subpoena files from James’ office, along with State Assembly investigative documents.
Those groups both objected and, according to the outlet, there is no decision yet on the matter.
Lawyers for Cuomo said the legal efforts were “part of routine discovery” in the current stage of litigation.
They also said Cuomo never had a chance to question his accusers himself.
Limmiatis accused Cuomo of grabbing her at an event in 2017. Commisso, Liss, McGrath and Boylan worked as assistants for Cuomo.
A lawyer for Boylan said the subpoenas were just another example of Cuomo’s pattern of harassment of women.
“The extreme nature of this latest subpoena against my client shows that Mr. Cuomo has no qualms about continuing his harassment of the women he abused using taxpayers’ money,” said attorney Julie Gerchik.
She added that Boylan had already gone through two investigations related to her allegations.
Cuomo has maintained his innocence since the allegations surfaced, while also apologizing for any inconvenience his actions may have caused.
He later claimed the investigations into him were politically motivated and said he was a victim of cancellation culture.
Andrew Cuomo with one of his accusers, Brittany Commisso. She was one of 11 people who said they were victims of sexual misconduct
Prosecutor Lindsey Boylan. Her attorney said Cuomo’s latest move was just part of his pattern of harassment
Ana Liss was one of the people Cuomo accused. The former governor’s attorney said Cuomo was never able to question his accusers.
Alyssa McGrath is one of the people Cuomo is trying to get statements from
Trooper 1, whose name has not been released, claimed Cuomo tried to kiss her, steered conversations toward sex, asked her to help him find a girlfriend, and once asked “why aren’t you wearing a dress?”
“As with his other victims, the governor used his physical proximity to Trooper 1 to touch her inappropriately,” the lawsuit alleged.
He made comments about her appearance (”why aren’t you wearing a dress?”); wanted to kiss her (”(c)an I kiss you?”); asked her to find him a girlfriend who could “handle pain” and steered their conversations towards sex (“(w)why would you want to get married? … your sex drive is going down”) ,’ the pack battled.
The complaint stated that Trooper 1, who was part of Cuomo’s security detail in September 2019, accompanied the governor to the Belmont race track, where she says “she felt violated when the governor deliberately touched her in intimate areas between her breasts and vagina” .
As Trooper 1 walked ahead of the governor to hold the door open for him, he placed the palm of his hand on her navel and slid it across her waist to her right hip, where her gun was holstered,” the complaints alleged. .
The trooper said Cuomo asked her about her relationship status days later, “clearly prompted by the now public fact that he had broken up with his girlfriend” and asked for the trooper’s ad.”
The complaint also alleged that on another occasion, Cuomo “ran his finger down the middle of my back of my spine, actually from the top of my neck, actually halfway down with his index finger and just said, ‘Hey, you.’