NEW YORK — The New York State Attorney General's (OAG) office announced Wednesday it has begun releasing transcripts and corresponding exhibits from an independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against former governor Andrew Cuomo.
Earlier this year, Cuomo was accused by several women of sexual harassment, or inappropriate behavior. Cuomo has repeatedly denied those allegations.
Among the transcripts released on Wednesday are from Cuomo himself, as well as the women who made the allegations. You can read them on the Attorney General's website: https://ag.ny.gov/CuomoIndependentInvestigation
New York Attorney General Letitia James released the report in August. The investigation was led by independent investigators Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark.
RELATED: NY Attorney General: Independent investigators find Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women
The Attorney General's office says it was asked by several district attorneys to hold off on releasing the transcripts, as well as other evidence until they could investigate and determine if criminal charges should be filed against Cuomo.
In October, the Albany County Sheriff's office filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo in Albany City Court. According to the Attorney General's office, the Albany County District Attorney's office then informed the OAG that it would release evidence to Cuomo to comply with the state's discovery laws.
Cuomo's Attorney Rita Glavin questioned the timing and said in a statement, "the Attorney General deliberately harms a pending case by broadcasting to each witness what other witnesses have testified to and spreading false and salacious hearsay and rumors."
New York State law requires that once someone has been charged with a crime, they must be given transcripts and evidence in their case.
The OAG says they are releasing the transcripts and corresponding exhibits on a rolling basis to provide transparency to the people of New York.
Among the transcripts being released:
Subject of Investigation
- Former Governor Andrew Cuomo
Complainants
- Charlotte Bennett
- Lindsay Boylan
- Brittany Commisso
- Kaitlin
- Ana Liss
- Virginia Limmiatis
- Alyssa McGrath
- State Entity Employee #1
- State Entity Employee #2
- Trooper # 1
Cuomo called some of the allegations fabricated, forcefully denying he touched anyone inappropriately. But he acknowledged making some aides uncomfortable with comments he said he intended as playful, and he apologized for some of his behavior.
He portrayed some of the encounters as misunderstandings attributable to “generational or cultural” differences, a reference in part to his upbringing in an affectionate Italian American family.
Cuomo, being questioned by Kim, was asked about the allegation that Cuomo touched Commisso's breast while she was at the Governor's mansion. Cuomo responded:
"That never happened. Let's just -- you know, at one point there has to be a little reality. To touch a woman's breast who I hardly know, in the mansion, with ten staff around, with my family in the mansion, to say "I don't care who sees us." You've investigated me for six years. I would have to lose my mind to do some -- such a thing. It would be an act of insanity to touch a woman's breast and make myself vulnerable to a woman for such an accusation."
In total, Cuomo's interview plays out over 515 pages and often goes back and forth over various topics and mincing of words. Mr. Kim and the former Governor spent 4 pages just trying to define the terms "girlfriend" and "date."
The former Governor also repeatedly said during the interview he was careful with how he acted around women but danced around questions from the investigators regarding the state's mandated sexual harassment training and said he didn't remember what years he did or didn't take it or whether an aide signed off for him.
The transcripts go on to include Charlotte Bennett, Lindsey Boylan, Brittany Commisso, and 7 other women who lay out their allegations of awkward touching, groping, and more.
When Ms. Boylan was asked whether harassment training was offered in the executive office she responded starking with, "the whole building is sexual harassment."
Cuomo resigned as governor in August a week after the release of the AG's report was released.
Cuomo was expected to appear in court on November 17. That date has been pushed back because the Albany County District Attorney said that the criminal complaint filed by the Albany Sheriff's Office on October 28 was "potentially defective."
The complaint accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo of committing a misdemeanor sex crime but did not include a sworn deposition from the victim, which is required for such a case.