Westchester County DA not filing criminal charges against Cuomo for allegedly kissing 2 women’s cheeks

Alexandra Weaver

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC/AP) — Former governor Andrew Cuomo will not be facing charges in Westchester County for two separate allegations of inappropriate behavior.

The Westchester County District Attorney said in a statement Tuesday that it “found credible evidence” to conclude that the alleged incidents did occur, but that it could not pursue charges due to the statutory requirements of criminal laws in New York.

Those allegations include those of a woman identified only as Trooper 1 in New York State Attorney General Letitia James’ report into allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Cuomo.

The woman alleges that while she was a member of Cuomo’s detail at this Mount Kisco home, she asked him if he needed anything and he responded by asking if her could kiss her and that she said “sure” because she was afraid of the ramifications of saying “no”, then Cuomo kissed her on the cheek.

The second allegation the Westchester County District Attorney was investigating was from a woman who said Cuomo grabbed her arm, pulled her toward him and kissed her on the cheek without asking for permission while they were both at an event at White Plains High School.

Last week, the Acting Nassau County District Attorney announced her office would not press criminal charges against the former governor, but that it did find a female state trooper’s allegation that Cuomo ran the palm of his left hand across her abdomen, to her belly button and then to her right hip while she held a door open for him as he left an event at Belmont Park back in 2019 "credible, deeply troubling but not criminal under New York law."

[News10NBC]

James’ 168-page report found that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women in violation of federal and state civil rights law, but she said pursuing potential criminal penalties would be up to prosecutors.

In October, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office filed a misdemeanor forcible touching complaint against Cuomo, but a week later the district attorney asked a judge for more time to evaluate the evidence.

Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said in August that she was investigating the possibility of filing criminal charges against the governor. She has not shared an update.