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A28 u.s. news
Diasabra 30 OctOber 2021

Letitia James announces she will run for New York governor

Cuomo’s resignation, James ditional preelection breakfast
had been known nationally Cuomo has attacked James’ for Democratic power play-
for her frequent legal tussles report as inaccurate and bi- ers.
with Trump. ased, denied mistreating
women and said he resigned Hochul thanked the crowd
Since she became attorney in order to avoid subjecting for supporting her as the
general in 2019, her office the state to turmoil. state’s first-ever female gov-
has investigated Trump’s ernor and implying in her
business affairs and filed doz- James has dismissed the remarks that she expected to
ens of lawsuits against the charge that her investigation win multiple terms as gover-
Republican’s administration was politically motivated, nor.
over federal policies on im- saying Cuomo should take
migration, the environment responsibility for his own “I feel the weight of history
and other matters. conduct. on my shoulders because it’s
my responsibility to demon-
“I’ve sued the Trump admin- James made the announce- strate that a woman can gov-
(AP) — New York Attor- elected as New York’s at- istration 76 times. But who’s ment the day after a criminal ern with strength, with heart
ney General Letitia James torney general and the first counting?” James said in her complaint was filed against and passion and fight for
formally announced Fri- Black person to serve in the kickoff video, making a play- Cuomo in Albany, accusing the people of this state. And
day that she is running role. She’s expected to be ful shrug of her shoulders the former governor of com- so when I’m done with my
for governor, a widely an- a strong challenger against while looking into the cam- mitting a misdemeanor sex terms, no one will ever ques-
ticipated move from the Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had era. crime of groping a woman in tion the ability of a woman to
woman who oversaw an been Cuomo’s lieutenant December 2020. hold the highest office in this
investigation into allega- governor, for the Democratic James also filed a lawsuit ac- state or in this land,” Hochul
tions that former Gov. An- nomination. cusing the National Rifle As- Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, said.
drew Cuomo sexually ha- sociation’s leaders of financial said in a statement that the
rassed numerous women. Hochul, who is from the mismanagement, the latest in Democrat never assaulted James, speaking about 20
Buffalo area, entered office a string of regulatory actions anyone. He’s due in court minutes after Hochul at the
James announced her candi- with a reputation as centrist that have delighted liberals Nov. 17 to respond to the restaurant in her home turf,
dacy on Twitter, saying, “I’m who is working to bolster her but drawn complaints from charge. drew loud applause and
running for Governor of ties to New York City, where Republicans that she has un- asked, “Is Brooklyn in the
New York because I have the James’ political support is fairly used her office to target New York City Public Advo- house?”
experience, vision, and cour- based. political opponents. cate Jumaane Williams and
age to take on the powerful New York City Mayor Bill The attorney general did not
on behalf of all New York- James was born and raised in While under public pressure de Blasio have both said they make any campaign remarks
ers.” Brooklyn and made her first in 2020, Cuomo authorized are considering a run. Two but urged attendees to vote in
run for City Council as a James to investigate allega- other potential Democratic the city’s upcoming elections
A campaign video cited the candidate of the liberal Work- tions he had sexually harassed candidates come from Long on Tuesday and think about
multiple lawsuits she filed ing Families Party. Her path several women. The inde- Island: Suffolk County exec- “the threats to our democ-
against former President to the nomination will be the pendent investigators she utive Steve Bellone and U.S. racy, to our freedom” includ-
Donald Trump’s administra- obverse of Hochuls, trying to hired to conduct the inquiry Rep. Thomas Suozzi, who ing reproductive rights and
tion and an investigation into win over upstate Democrats released a report in August lives in Nassau County. threats to the environment.
deaths in New York’s nurs- who might be less progres- concluding that there were
ing homes during the CO- sive. credible allegations from 11 On Friday morning, James “Let everybody know that
VID-19 pandemic. women, including one aide and Hochul each made brief Brooklyn and New York
Before her bombshell re- who said the governor had appearances at a downtown State — we’re one,” James
James, 62, is the first woman port was released, prompting groped her breast. Brooklyn restaurant for a tra- said.

NY sheriff defends decision to charge Cuomo

(AP) — A New York sher- Nevertheless, he added: “We Talk 1300. “I have no doubt
iff on Friday defended his have the facts of the investi- Forcible touching is a misde- that they believe in their Craig said it was “disheart-
decision to file a criminal gation and the criminal sum- meanor in New York, pun- case. I have no issue with any ening” that the court system
complaint against former mons was issued. So on No- ishable by up to a year in jail, of that. It’s just that this is a made the criminal complaint
New York Gov. Andrew vember 17th, that individual though many cases for first- politically charged matter, public immediately, some-
Cuomo without consult- will have to answer to that time offenders are resolved right? ... So I think it’s only thing he described as a “leak,”
ing prosecutors or inform- charge,” said Craig, referring with probation or a shorter prudent to allow the pros- although such court filings
ing the accuser, a woman to Cuomo and the date he jail sentence. ecutorial authority to have a are public in New York and
who says she was groped has been ordered to appear in say in how the investigation are routinely made available
by the Democrat last year. court. The Albany County District is conducted and whether to reporters.
Attorney’s office said after there’s a prosecution, right?”
Albany County Sheriff Craig The one-page complaint, the charge was filed that it
Apple said in a radio inter- filed in Albany City Court, had not been informed ahead
view that he did not intend accuses Cuomo of commit- of time. It has been conduct-
for the criminal charge to be- ting the crime of forcible ing its own investigation and
come public so soon, but he touching by putting his hand was expected to take the lead
said the case should go for- under a woman’s shirt on on a decision about whether
ward. Dec. 7, 2020. to prosecute.

“We didn’t want everybody to The complaint did not name Commisso’s lawyer, Brian
know exactly what we were the woman, but she has Premo, said he had also ex-
doing because we didn’t want identified herself as Brittany pected the district attorney’s
all this, the circus,” Craig said Commisso, who worked as office to handle the case.
in an interview with radio one of Cuomo’s executive
host Paul Vandenburgh of assistants before his resigna- “I have no doubt that the
Albany’s Talk 1300. tion amid sexual harassment sheriff’s investigators did a
allegations in August. thorough job,” Premo told