(FreedomWire.org) – A judge ruled on Friday that New Yorkers must pay the fees for disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s legal defense as he fights allegations that he sexually harassed a state trooper.
In February 2022, an unidentified New York state trooper filed suit in Manhattan against Cuomo, New York State Police, and Cuomo’s former top aide, Melissa DeRosa, The Associated Press reported at the time, claiming they “violated civil laws on the federal, state and city level prohibiting sexual harassment.”
“As with his other victims, the governor used his physical proximity to Trooper 1 to touch her inappropriately,” the lawsuit alleged. “He commented on her appearance (‘why don’t you wear 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)hy would you want to get married? … your sex drive goes down’).”
The trooper is seeking damages for “severe mental anguish and emotional distress.”
In August 2022, Cuomo filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Letitia James, “arguing that she violated state law by denying him public assistance for his defense,” according to Fox News.
Because Cuomo “was acting within the scope of his employment or duties” at the time of the trooper’s accusations, the suit contends, he is entitled to a state-funded defense.
And, while Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shlomo Hagler said it is up to a jury to decide if Cuomo sexually harassed the trooper, he agreed that the sleazy politician can not be denied his defense at state taxpayers’ expense.
Following more than two hours of oral arguments, Hagler ruled via video on Friday, “This court grants the petition and requires that there be a defense,” the New York Post reported.
“[Cuomo’s] view is that everything he did was within the scope of his employment and he was just acting as the governor … when addressing trooper 1 in a friendly manner,” the judge said. “Did he go over the line? That is not clear cut.”
As Cuomo has denied the allegations, the case will play out in court, with New Yorkers picking up the tab.
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