Former Cuomo aide files lawsuit alleging sexual assault, hours before deadline
Brittany Commisso, a former executive assistant to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has filed a lawsuit alleging he sexually assaulted her, just hours before the deadline set by the Adult Survivors Act, a law that expanded the time limit for suing for sexual assault or harassment.
Commisso began working for Cuomo in 2017 and ultimately accused him of continuous sexual harassment, including unwelcome advances, sexualized comments, and forcible touching. Cuomo eventually resigned as governor in August 2021 following multiple sexual misconduct allegations, including those made by Commisso and several other women.
The lawsuit also claims that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul demoted Commisso and assigned her demeaning tasks after she allegedly rejected Cuomo’s offer to date her. Rita Glavin, an attorney for Cuomo, has dismissed Commisso’s claims as provably false and a “transparent attempt at a cash grab.”
Commisso had previously filed a misdemeanor criminal complaint against Cuomo for forcible touching, but the charge was later dismissed. In an interview with “CBS Mornings,” Commisso alleged that Cuomo had groped her twice, in December 2019 and November 2020.
She was one of 11 women whose allegations were featured in a report by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Cuomo has denied all allegations, while Commisso has expressed her determination to seek justice.