After the AG announced the findings of her result and published the report, Rita Glavin provided a detailed timeline of activities on November 16, 2020, which shows that the incident could not have happened that day. Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife and son, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, White supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes kicked out of CPAC, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Biden team readies new advisory panel ahead of expected reelection bid, At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, House Democrats unhappy with White House handling of D.C.'s new criminal code. I mean it was he was like cupping my breast. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, has identified herself as Brittany Commisso, Cuomo mocks Biden over China spy balloon debacle, Sky-high costs: Hochul sticks NY taxpayers with $271K flight tab in first year as gov, Mario bridge name bill: Letters to the Editor Feb. 24, 2023, How to bring back The Tappan Zee Bridge with some class. With my right hand, I took the selfie," she said. Commisso said this made her so nervous that her hands began to shake, making it difficult for her to even take the picture. One of New York Gov. I really don't know how to explain the moment. This indicates she was looking for a financial settlement and/or judgment. When I stopped it, he just pulled away and walked away. "What he did to me was a crime," Ms Commisso, 32, said about alleged instances of . The investigations are still ongoing, and these women are currently the focus of media attention. Where this non-disclosure agreement comes from, that is not a wording that he would use, she continued. Ms. Glavin has also suggested that Ms. Commisso was not alone with the governor at the Executive Mansion on the day in question and was sent there for different reasons than she has told investigators and journalists. It was untucked.Q. Commisso is one of the 11 women who Cuomo was accused of sexually harassing in a damning report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Brittany Commisso, one of 11 women whose claims of sexual abuse were substantiated by an August 3 report by the state's attorney general, made her first public comments in an interview with "CBS. The investigation was led by employment law attorney Anne Clark and former federal prosecutor Joon Kim. And who do you tell?, Commissos attorney, Brian Premo, told the Times-Union in July 2021 that his client would be willing to take a lie detector test. I remember just being told to go in there and literally take whatever he had on his notes app and to put it into his text messages and send it to Stephanie. I would never on my own get up and initiate a hug with the governor, Ms. Commisso said in a joint interview with CBS This Morning and the Albany Times Union. The accusation that he had his hands around their ribcages below their breasts is absurd. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. There are troopers that are outside of the mansion and there are some mansion staff. ", Commisso called the governor's response "disgusting. interview with CBS News and the Albany Times-Union, with the Albany Times-Union in April 2021. The two are in the midst of contested divorce proceedings and have a daughter, who is around 6 years old. Brittany Commisso, listed as "Executive Assistant #1" in the state attorney general's investigation into alleged sexual harassment by Cuomo in the workplace, came forward in an interview. Any suggestion that attempts to undermine the credibility of these women or this investigation is unfortunate., Anne Clark: Meet the Lawyer Who Led the Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation, Brittany Commisso: Cuomo Executive Assistant #1 Speaks Out Publicly, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. On March 8, EA#2 and #3 reported the incident to the governors counsel, who relayed the information to the AGs office and GOER, the Governors Office of Employee Relations. Josh Solomon, a capitol bureau reporter. In a damning report released last week by New York State Attorney General Letitia James, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is accused of sexually harassing 11 women. fine for not having a boat licence qld; cherokee brick products She told the newspaper that when she first started working in the governors office, a woman who also worked on his staff told her Oh, youre going to get stolen. I just smiled. Would love your thoughts, please comment. If he was doing anything inappropriate, he would not leave a photo of it as evidence on the phone of his victim. ", Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said on Saturday that his office will undertake a criminal investigation based on Commisso's complaint. Brittany Commisso speaks out about allegations against Cuomo, Brittany Commisso says hugs, kisses from Cuomo were "not normal" and "not welcomed", Cuomo "needs professional help," accuser Brittany Commisso says, London police apologize as officer admits to dozens of rapes, Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty to 7 sexual assault charges in London, Writer files upgraded lawsuit alleging Trump "forcibly raped" her. In an exclusive interview with @CBSThisMorning & @timesunion, Brittany Commisso, an Executive Assistant at NY Gov. Brittany Commisso speaks during an interview that aired on CBS This Morning on August 9. She and the investigators realize that this makes her story even more incredible, and Commisso is led (unsuccessfully) by the investigators in an attempt to fix it and make the narrative work. "That is not true. I remember that is when I put it back on but I didnt zipper it back up. A politician, attorney, and novelist from the United States named Andrew is charged of pestering women sexually. Now my hives are coming out. And that right thing is to resign and to tell the truth.". According to the New York state record; the married couple is currently going through a contested divorce, apparently. Andrew Cuomo of sexual misconduct, suggested to investigators that allies of the disgraced politician tried to meddle in her divorce proceedings in a brazen attempt to discredit her, according to disturbing new transcripts released this week. Commisso claims she was afraid a staffer might walk in and get the wrong idea, but that after she said that, Cuomo "shut the door so hard to the point where I thought for sure, someone downstairs must think if they heard that, 'what is going on?'". 289 Followers, 220 Following, 24 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Frank Commisso Jr. (@commissoforalbany) Cuomo to resign gains momentum among notable Democrats, Gavin Newsom loves bashing Texas; here's what Texas Republicans have to say about that, Presidential candidate Nikki Haley heckled by Trump supporters at CPAC: 'We love Trump! Cuomo allegedly endured harassment, An investigator says that an executive assistant of Governor Andrew Cuomo endured a series of inappropriate encounters with Governor Andrew Cuomo. He posed for [the] photograph with his hands firmly around both womens ribcages, just below their breasts (in other words, their waists, the normal place for a hand in pictures such as these). It is the first time she has been named publicly. Cuomo, 63, has repeatedly denied that he ever touched anyone inappropriately. He has not been criminally charged. "The governor knows that what he did to me and what he did to these 10 other women, whether it be a comment or an actual physical contact, was sexual harassment. After Cuomo and his attorneys responded to the report in a video statement and at a press conference, James and the attorney generals office issued a statement on August 6 saying, After multiple women made accusations that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed them, the governor, himself, requested that Attorney General James oversee an independent investigation. Frank Commisso for Mayor/Twitter November 4, 2021, District Attorney David Soares sent a letter to the Albany City Court calling the complaint the Sheriff unilaterally and inexplicably filed potentially defective and excluded portions of Commissos testimony that were of exculpatory nature. Brittany Commisso Age. AG report p. 20, fn#123. Commisso, known as. Both Cuomo and Benton testified that the other assistant (#3) was better at dictation and typing. I know what she meant by that. Commisso told the newspaper that in late 2019, she began to be called upon to work directly with Cuomo more frequently. Ms. Glavin, as she has responded to Ms. Commissos allegations, has focused on the lack of certainty around the date. Cuomo testified that he does not like to take selfies. The Special Counsel took notes of that call, contemporaneous evidence that the Report did not include, but which was provided by Rita Glavin in her Submission on October 20, 2021. In no event will the Operator, or its partners, employees or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information on the Website, or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. And my understanding is thats how she got her job, he said. After graduating from SUNY Albany with a degree in political science and government, Commisso landed a gig in the Albany County Department of Law in 2013, according to her since-deleted LinkedIn page. The staffer who accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of groping her in the Executive Mansion and other harassing behavior has come forward: Brittany Commisso, executive assistant to the . Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content. Andrew Cuomo's aide, who accused him of groping and kissing her on the lips, has publicly identified herself as Brittany Commisso. Commisso's accusations of increasingly inappropriate advances included Cuomo sneaking his hand down to her butt and rubbing it, during an embrace for a selfie that he suggested they take . "I know what happened and so does he," Commisso, 33, who was referred to as "Executive Assistant 1" in a report accusing . 2 men found drugged after leaving NYC gay bars were killed, medical examiner says, Executive Assistant #1: Cuomo Accuser Speaks. I remember seeing I was wearing a black bra and I could see my black bra cup. Commisso claims Cuomo groped her in December 2019 and November 2020. I remember having my coat on, it was November, it was cold. On August 5, Brittany Commisso filed a criminal complaint at the Sheriffs Office (instead of the Police Department), 10 days before she had her next court date regarding her divorce. Cuomo accuser Brittany Commisso breaks her silence to detail groping allegations and says the governor is lying; Brittany Commisso is one of 11 women referenced in a scathing report from New York . Not, you know, quickly brushing over it rubbing my butt.. You put it back up before he came around and groped you; is that right?A. Blackberry PIN messages used by the Protective Services Unit to announce visitors confirmed that Commisso was there on November 16, 2020. Commisso sent the selfie to her friend McGrath when still next to Cuomo. I showed him them. ", Commisso said that after watching his denial she "broke down" and told two coworkers "a little bit.". Commisso was. ALBANY Brittany Commisso, the executive assistant whom Gov. He broke the laws that he himself created. Cuomo testified that he called them mingle mamas in response to Commisso and McGrath saying that they were single and ready to mingle. On March 9, the lawyer contacted the Executive Chamber and said that he planned to file an administrative complaint on her behalf and that Commisso would not pursue the matter criminally. Commisso whose groping allegationled to a misdemeanor criminal complaint being filedagainstthe former governor last month implied that her estranged husband may have been manipulated by Cuomo insiders into erroneously believing she and Cuomo had a consensual affair. The investigation was conducted to support a predetermined narrative and in our legal system, both sides are heard and given access to the evidence, but here, instead of acting as independent fact-finders, the investigators acted as prosecutors, judge, and jury. assistant mingle mamas, inquiring multiple times about whether she had cheated or would cheat on her husband and asking her to help find him a girlfriend., The report states, These offensive interactions, among others, culminated in an incident at the executive mansion in November 2020 when the governor, during another close hug with Executive Assistant #1, reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast. If you do not have such authority, or if you do not agree with the terms of this agreement, you must not accept this agreement and may not access and use the Website and Services. During this conversation Commisso told Cuomo that she would visit an old boyfriend in Florida and that she also had a boyfriend in Saratoga, a detail omitted in the report. Legal Statement. Brittany Commisso, who filed a criminal complaint against Gov. We have a lot of fact finding to do, we have a lot of interviews to do. Apple said that would include a lengthy interview with Commisso. ", "What he did was a crime," she said. By that November, the Times Union reported, she was being called to assist Cuomo more frequently, including at the Executive Mansion. Brittany Commisso is Executive Assistant #1 in the AGs report and Ms. ", Fabien Levy, a spokesman of the state attorney general, criticized Glavins comments as "unfortunate.". Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers in #Albany! It was definitely a blouse that it wasnt low cut, but I could definitely see his hand underneath it.[]Q. Brittany Commisso, one of the women accusing ex-Gov. There are no witnesses, no evidence, and she never mentioned it to anyone, including her best friend until March 3, 2021. All rights reserved. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Brittany Commisso's full deposition in the case of New York State vs Former Governor Andrew Cuomo. In his defense, Mr. Cuomo told investigators that Ms. Commisso was the initiator of any hugs between them, the report said. I know what happened and so does he," she said. Maybe he had a letter or dictation that he wanted to do, and he said no, thats it. Commisso was married in 2016 to former Albany Common Council member Frank Commisso Jr., the son of Albany County Legislator Frank Commisso Sr., a Democrat. Andrew M. Cuomo, spoke publicly for the first time about her allegations. The Commisso pair are going through a contested divorce. Commisso claims that she took several photos before during which it happened, but that she deleted them because they were blurry. By accessing and using the Website and Services you agree to be bound by this Disclaimer. He reached under her blouse grasping one of her breasts over her bra. I don't have the words. Then the investigators start asking questions about her coat because wearing a coat doesnt fit her narrative of Cuomo sliding his hand instantly and in .2 seconds under her blouse. The governor of New York is presently facing the most severe charges of sexual misconduct. Brittany Commisso, who was identified only as "Executive Assistant #1" in the AG's report, came forward in an interview with CBS This Morning and the Albany Times Union, days after she filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo with the Albany County Sheriff's Office. It was going to be me. But when she asked Frank to confirm that the people he was speaking to were individuals tied to Cuomo, he backtracked. Brittany Commisso one of the previously unnamed 11 women who New York Gov. Neither the elder nor the junior Frank Commisso has spoken out publicly about the accusations made by Brittany Commisso. Indemnification and warranties: The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. Commisso was a former administrative assistant to Cuomo. What he did to me was a crime. CUOMO FOLLOWS WELL-USED PLAYBOOK BY SCANDAL-PLAGUED POLITICIANS: DENY WRONGDOING, WAIT IT OUT. Cuomo allegedly began harassing Brittany Commisso around November 2019, and she accused him of groping her on New Year's Eve 2019. Three days later, on March 6, 2021 (a Saturday), Commisso was on duty for the weekend shift, but Stephanie Benton called another assistant to the Executive Mansion to work that day. Times Union Interview, April 7, 2021: It was a weekday in late November. "After multiple women made accusations that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed them, the governor, himself, requested that Attorney General James oversee an independent investigation," Levy said in a statement. https://t.co/NEmtgY7c1Q pic.twitter.com/aQzc2L8AUe. First published on August 9, 2021 / 6:30 AM. Pauses, fillers, irrelevant comments were removed. The divorce proceedings are ongoing, with a trial set for March 16, 2022, in Albany court. "There was a speech that he gave less than a month ago, and in his speech, he said, 'If you give New Yorkers the truth and you give New Yorkers the facts, the good, the bad, the ugly, they will do the right thing.' In her testimony on May 17, 2021, she claimed she deleted them because she didnt want Cuomo to see how shaky and nervous she was. I remember going downstairs and escorting myself out and going to my car and sitting there for a second and going, OK, I have to now go back into the Capitol, go back to my desk and do my job and pretend that, like, that didnt just happen. Glavin said, I did what any investigator would do, which I reconstructed the events of that day (November 16, 2020). I definitely remember wearing a blouse that when you looked down you could see the top of my bra. She started to work for Cuomo in the Executive Chamber as an Administrative Assistant in 2019. There are 11 women whose accounts have been corroborated by a mountain of evidence. Brittany was born and brought up in Albany, United States of America. Commisso has a clear financial motive. They were corroborated by the state attorney generals report, which included multiple allegations of sexual harassment against Mr. Cuomo. Early Life Brittany Commisso was born on August 13, 1988 in Albany, New York, USA. This statement was hidden in a footnote of the report. He is also facing a criminal investigation by the Albany County Sheriffs Office in connection to Commissos accusations, while prosecutors in Westchester County, Nassau County and Manhattan have also opened criminal inquiries. And it was certainly not consensual.". Brittany Commisso C in 2019 was employed in Executive Chamber and had annual salary of $65,220 according to public records. She told him the divorce created financial pressure. I remember now I that if I recall correctly when I went to leave and stood back up I just put my coat back on, but I dont believe I zippered it.Q. He slammed the door shut and said I dont care (she was thinking about the staff downstairs hearing it). She said he would also ask about her divorce and whether she had ever had sex with other men during her marriage. This is the only place he could place his hands, otherwise he would grope their butts or breasts. However, after a couple of months and processing this whole thing, I do want her to know that she has a voice, Commisso saidin Mondays sit-down. Additionally, on November 25, Cuomo was 225 miles away in Rochester holding a briefing around noon, and then giving out turkeys.The task is now specified as assisting him how to text a note from his iPhone to Benton. Those troopers that are there, they are not there to protect me. ', Commisso added, I didnt have another choice. She said as they were posing for the photo, Cuomo moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and then rubbed it for "at least five seconds.". / CBS News. Times Union Article, October 11, 2021:Subpoenaed records indicate the incident took place in early December as opposed to November, as erroneously proffered in a report by investigators with the state attorney generals office. The report fails to note that it was the Executive Chamber that alerted the Albany Police Department and instead misleadingly states that criminal authorities [] have been alerted to the most egregious allegations. She provided different versions on different occasions, which were inconsistent with the evidence and other witness statements, and she contradicted herself repeatedly. She said Youre going to get us in trouble because the door was open and she was afraid that a woman who works here is going to come in and see. From this testimony it seems quite obvious that the Governor is along with the couples daughter used as a pawn in their divorce, fight over custody and money. (AG report p. 17-18). Brittany Commisso, who was identified as "Executive Assistant #1" in the state attorney general's scathing report, granted an exclusive interview with "CBS This Morning" and the Times Union. Her husband, Frank Commisso Jr., even suggested he had spoken to the Cuomo camp in a tape-recorded conversation Commisso made that discussed the bogus affair, according to a transcript of her interview released Wednesday. Commisso stated that the incident happened around the day she was tasked to take a photo of the document. The investigators established the breast groping incident took place on November 16 based on a photo. Andrew M. Cuomo of groping her in the Executive Mansion and filed a criminal complaint against him, forcefully rebutted the. "What he did to me was a crime," Commisso said of Cuomo during the interview. The pair . Mr. Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, was among those who spearheaded the effort, the report said. In an exclusive interview with "CBS This Morning" and the Times Union, one of those women, previously known only as Executive Assistant #1 is breaking her silence. Ms. Commisso said in the interview that she was afraid a staffer might walk in and get the wrong idea and told Mr. Cuomo, youre going to get us in trouble.. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Thanks for contacting us. At the annual holiday party in 2019, Cuomo took a picture with Commisso and her friend McGrath. Testimony according to AG Report:It was around the day she was was tasked with taking a photo of a document. The governor needs to be held accountable. Brittany Commisso, an executive assistant on Cuomo's staff, detailed her interactions with the Democrat in a joint interview with CBS and The Times Union of Albany that was broadcast Monday as a key New York legislative committee met behind closed doors to discuss potential impeachment hearings. Commisso also explained that she wanted to protect her daughter, saying, "I didn't want her to have to deal with anything that came along with this. Apples office took Commissos complaint during a brief interview on Thursday. The governor needs to be held accountable. The date was established as November 16 based on photo and state records. Brittany Commisso, una de las 11 mujeres cuyas denuncias de abuso sexual fueron corroboradas por un informe del 3 de agosto del fiscal general del estado, hizo sus primeros comentarios pblicos.