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u.s. news Diasabra 8 Januari 2022

Judge dismisses sole criminal charge against Andrew Cuomo

(AP) — A judge on Friday The dismissal of the charge,
dismissed the only crimi- which accused Cuomo of
nal charge filed against groping an aide in the ex-
former New York Gov. ecutive mansion in 2020, re-
Andrew Cuomo in con- moves what had been seen as
nection with the sexual the most serious legal threat
harassment allegations to the former governor. He
that drove him from of- said he never touched anyone
fice. inappropriately.

The move had been expected He could still face lawsuits
after Albany County pros- over his conduct if his ac-
ecutors said they couldn’t cusers choose to take him
prove the case and wanted to to court. Some, including
drop it, and Cuomo’s lawyers Commisso, have indicated
asked the court to agree. they plan to do so.

Cuomo, a Democrat who The local sheriff filed the
denied the allegation, didn’t misdemeanor complaint in
speak during Friday’s short October, two months after
virtual hearing. Wearing a Cuomo resigned from office. tially defective” and moved to the accuser credible. who aren’t equipped with
black mask, he was briefly Albany County District At- delay Cuomo’s arraignment, as much information or the
visible on the videoconfer- torney David Soares told originally set for November. Commisso was among the obligations that I have. Ev-
ence as his lawyer Rita Glavin Trexler this week that al- critics. eryone is entitled to an opin-
moved her camera to show though the aide was credible, In a letter to Trexler on Tues- ion, but there’s only one per-
him in the room. and some evidence supported day, Soares said “statutory “My disappointing experi- son with a burden of proof,
her account, he believed he elements of New York law ence of re-victimization with and that’s me,” he told the
“As the governor has said, this couldn’t win a conviction in make this case impossible the failure to prosecute a se- WAMC/Northeast Public
simply did not happen,” she court. to prove.” He added that rial sexual abuser, no matter Radio network.
said in a video statement after government inquiries into what degree the crime com-
the hearing. The aide, Brittany Commis- Cuomo’s conduct had creat- mitted, yet again sadly high- Two prosecutors in the New
so, said Cuomo slid his hand ed “technical and procedural lights the reason victims are York City suburbs sepa-
“Today, reason and the rule up her blouse and grabbed hurdles” regarding prosecu- afraid to come forward, espe- rately announced last month
of law prevailed. Not politics, her breast when they were tors’ obligations to disclose cially against people in pow- that Cuomo would not face
rhetoric or mob mentality,” alone in an office at the man- evidence to the defense. er,” Commisso said in a state- charges for allegations in-
Glavin added. sion. ment to the Times Union of volving other women who
Glavin on Friday called the Albany. said they had been subjected
Assistant district attorney Her testimony was among complaint “a blatant political to unwanted kisses or touch-
Jennifer McCanney told the the most damning in a report act,” branded Apple a “rogue The Associated Press doesn’t es.
court that prosecutors had released in August by Demo- sheriff” and assailed Com- identify people who say they
“reviewed all of the available cratic state Attorney General misso’s credibility. have been sexually assaulted James, meanwhile, is still
evidence and concluded we Letitia James that concluded unless they decide to tell their looking into whether Cuomo
cannot successfully secure a Cuomo sexually harassed 11 “As the governor has said, stories publicly, as Commisso improperly used state work-
conviction in this case.” women. this simply did not happen,” has done in interviews. ers and resources for his
Glavin said. coronavirus pandemic mem-
Judge Holly Trexler said she Cuomo resigned that month. Soares, in a radio interview oir. He’s also tussling with
was “acutely aware” of dis- He has called the report un- Apple has shrugged off previ- Friday, noted that the attor- state ethics commissioners
trict attorneys’ “unfettered fair. ous attacks by Cuomo’s rep- ney general’s inquiry didn’t who won him to turn over $5
discretion” to decide whether resentatives as unfounded. have the same legal require- million in book proceeds.
to prosecute a case. Soares has said he was caught ments as a criminal case, and
by surprise when Sheriff Some legal experts said he said prosecutors can’t be The U.S. Department of Jus-
“A court may not and should Craig Apple, a fellow Demo- Soares’ decision illustrated swayed by public sentiment tice in August opened a civil
not interfere with discretion crat, filed the forcible touch- the difficulties of prosecut- or “passions.” inquiry into sexual harass-
of a district attorney,” she ing complaint without con- ing sex crime allegations. But ment allegations concerning
said. sulting the prosecutor’s of- others said he should have “It’s not for me to engage in Cuomo. The status of that
fice. Soares called it “poten- proceeded if he considered any kind of debate with those investigation is unclear.

Winter storm snarls travel, gives some schools the day off

(AP) — A winter storm that had already blan- keted parts of the South largest public school system for some educators.
in snow moved into the open.
Northeast on Friday, Michael Gow, a middle
snarling air travel, crush- “Children need to be in school social studies teacher
ing morning commutes school. We don’t have any in Medfield, Massachusetts,
and giving hundreds of more days to waste” after the called Friday a “snowvid day”
school districts struggling many closures and remote- and acknowledged it gave
to keep kids in the class- learning days of the pandem- parents and teachers a re-
room during a wave of ic, said Mayor Eric Adams, prieve from the daily dilem-
new coronavirus cases an a Democrat dealing with his ma of whether to continue
excuse to shut down for a first major storm after tak- with in-person instruction as
one-day respite. ing office Saturday. He also the pandemic rages.
noted that many children rely
Schools in Boston closed, on in-school meals and that “This is a well deserved break
and Providence, Rhode Is- some working parents can’t for all of the teachers, staff,
land, public schools switched stay home. and students dealing with
to distance learning, but New the surge of omicron,” Gow
York City kept the nation’s But there was a sense of relief tweeted.