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ALBANY, NY (AP) – A woman who accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her chest at the governor’s state residence has filed a criminal complaint against him, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday.
The complaint, filed Thursday with the sheriff’s office, is the first known case where a woman has filed an official report with a law enforcement agency for Cuomo’s alleged misconduct.
Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple told the New York Post that the Democratic governor could be arrested if investigators or the county prosecutor determined he had committed a crime.
“The end result could be that it seems justified and that an arrest is made and that it would be up to the prosecutor to continue the arrest,” he told the newspaper, which was the first to report on the complaint. “Just because of who it is, we’re not going to rush it or delay it,” Apple said.
Apple did not immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press. His office confirmed to the PA that the report had been filed.
Cuomo’s aide who filed the report accused him of reaching under his shirt and petting her when they were alone together at the Executive Mansion last year. The woman also told investigators from the Attorney General’s Office that Cuomo had previously rubbed his behind as they posed for a photo together.
The sheriff’s office did not immediately provide a copy of the complaint. A request for comment was sent to Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin.
The Albany County District Attorney did not confirm that they had received a complaint, saying they did not intend to release any information because “it is an ongoing case that is ongoing. review, ”spokeswoman Cecilia Walsh said in an email.
Cuomo has denied touching anyone inappropriately. Her attorneys acknowledged that Cuomo and the woman met on the day of the alleged encounter, but said he never groped her.
Calls for Cuomo’s resignation or impeachment soared this week after an independent investigation overseen by the state attorney general’s office found Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers.
Prosecutors in several New York counties have said they are keen to investigate allegations of Cuomo’s inappropriate contact, but all had said they needed the women involved in the allegations make a formal report.
The Albany Police Department, the city’s main law enforcement agency, had been made aware of the woman’s allegations regarding the meeting at the mansion several months ago and had spoken to her lawyer, but had failed not opened an investigation at the time because she had not failed to report.
Criminal investigation comes as lawmakers move towards likely impeachment proceeding over allegations.
Lawyers working for the State Assembly sent a letter to Cuomo on Thursday giving him until August 13 respond to allegations made against him or provide documents to support his defense.
The state assembly’s judicial committee plans to meet on Monday to discuss the possibility of impeachment proceedings. A majority of members of the legislature have already declared themselves in favor of an impeachment trial if he doesn’t resign.
__ AP reporter Michael Hill contributed from Albany, NY
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