In February, the feminine state trooper on Cuomo’s safety element sued the ex-governor, his former high aides Melissa DeRosa and Rich Azzopardi and state police over sexual harassment claims in opposition to Cuomo that had been detailed in James’ report final 12 months on his actions.
The plaintiff, generally known as Trooper 1, was amongst 11 girls who James’ report final August stated had been sexually harassed by the three-term Democratic governor; he resigned every week after James’ report.
Cuomo seems to have been largely paying his legal bills with the roughly $16 million in his marketing campaign account since leaving workplace, however his lawyer contends he shouldn’t be on the hook for defending himself in opposition to allegations that got here when he was governor.
Cuomo’s lawsuit additionally continues his long-held competition that James’ report on his conduct was flawed and politically motivated, saying the report was “incomplete, biased, flawed and misleading.”
James’ workplace has maintained the state isn’t legally required to pay for Cuomo’s legal protection or signify him, and her workplace fired again at the lawsuit. She is in search of a second time period in November after briefly operating for governor, solely to determine to run once more for her present seat.
“Andrew Cuomo is trying to force New Yorkers to pay his legal bills because he believes sexual harassment was within his ‘scope of employment’ as governor,” James’ workplace stated in a press release.
“Sexually harassing young women who work for you is not part of anyone’s job description. Taxpayers should not have to pony up for legal bills that could reach millions of dollars so Mr. Cuomo’s lawyer can attack survivors of his abuse.”