Former NY Governor Cuomo Sues to Get Public Defender

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the state taxpayers should foot the bill for his legal defense against the allegations of sexual harassment that led to his resignation from office one year ago Wednesday, August 10.

The former Governor filed suit August 11 against the state Attorney General for allegedly violating state law by denying his request to be assigned public assistance for his defense.

Attorney General Letitia James in April denied the Democrat legal counsel.  Cuomo’s camp claims the sexual harassment allegations come from a time when, according to the court challenge: “he was acting within the scope of his employment or duties”, therefore the state should be responsible for facing the legal claims.

A former member of Cuomo’s security detail, a female New York State Trooper, is among those claiming inappropriate behavior on the part of the former governor.  The unnamed Trooper filed a lawsuit earlier this year in federal court claiming Cuomo and those in his administration violated her civil rights when the then-Governor made sexually suggestive comments to her and ran his fingers or hand across her stomach and back.

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The Attorney General’s investigation that resulted in Cuomo stepping down from office last year found the powerful politician had sexually harassed closed to a dozen women and members of his staff subsequently acted to retaliate against at least one of the women who stepped forward with harassment claims.

James, who, like Cuomo, is a Democrat, issued a statement in response to Cuomo’s suit saying: “Taxpayers should not have to pony up for legal bills that could reach millions of dollars so Mister Cuomo’s lawyer can attack survivors of his abuse.”