NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Attorney General Letitia James on Monday defended her report on sexual harassment allegations against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo after he claimed she abused her power for personal gain.
Cuomo over the weekend accused James, who announced her run for governor Friday, of colluding with Albany Sheriff Craig Apple before the sheriff's office announced a misdemeanor forcible touching charge against the former governor.
"Tish James publicly praised [Apple's] actions, using it to validate her sham report while announcing a run for governor the same day!" read a statement on Cuomo’s campaign website. "These political bedfellows are abusing their office and putting their agenda over their ethical and constitutional duty, and no one is buying it."
Cuomo’s campaign statement said James’ report, which detailed accusations of harassment from 11 women, was “fraudulent” and filled with a lack of hard evidence against him.
Apple has defended his case against Cuomo as “very solid” and “comprehensive.” James on Monday called the former governor’s statements propaganda.
“This is nothing more than an attempt by the former governor to undermine and criticize this report. Some would describe it as The Big Lie,” James reportedly told NY1’s Zack Fink while campaigning for City Council candidate Julie Menin in Manhattan.
Cuomo’s spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, fired back Monday, claiming James is executing “the Big Dodge.”
“Every time James is asked about [the Cuomo report], it’s the same platitudes and deflections,” Azzopardi said in a statement. “It’s clear she thinks New Yorkers are stupid but they know she won’t discuss it because she can’t defend it. Some would call it the Big Dodge.”
Though Apple’s criminal charge against Cuomo doesn’t identify the victim by name, the details align with an accusation made by former aide Brittany Commisso, who said he groped her breast in the Executive Mansion last December.
Under New York law, forced touching can result in up to a year of jail time.
James on Friday announced she would be running for governor in 2022 against Cuomo’s replacement, Gov. Kathy Hochul. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has also filed to run for the office and rumors have circulated that Mayor Bill de Blasio is also considering entering the race.
Related
Related
