(CNN) – An aide to the New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, who until now had only been identified as “Executive Assistant 1,” came out publicly and detailed her allegations of sexual harassment against the Democratic governor.
Brittany Commisso, one of 11 women whose allegations of sexual abuse were corroborated by an Aug. 3 report from the state attorney general, made her first public comments in an interview with “CBS This Morning” and the Albany Times Union, parts of which appeared on CBS Sunday.
“It was the right thing to do. The governor must be held accountable,” he said in the interview when asked why he filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo with the Albany Sheriff’s Office.
“What he did to me was a crime. He broke the law,” Commisso said when asked if “being held accountable, for you, means seeing the governor charged with a crime.”
According to the state report, Commisso told investigators Cuomo grabbed her butt during hugs and a photo. The report also details an allegation, previously reported by the Albany Times Union, of an incident at the governor’s mansion in which Cuomo allegedly reached under her blouse and grabbed her breast.
“There started to be hugs with kisses on the cheek, and then at one point there was a hug, and when he went to kiss me on the cheek, he quickly turned his head and kissed me on the lips,” he said.
Brittany commisso
When asked by CBS’s Jericka Duncan what he said during the alleged incident, Commisso replied “nothing.”
“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say anything all this time. People don’t understand that this is the governor of the state of New York,” he continued. “There are soldiers who are outside the mansion and there are personnel from the mansion. Those soldiers who are there, they are not there to protect me. They are there to protect him.”
Attorneys representing Cuomo and his office declined to comment on the CNN interview, and the governor has denied the allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment. CNN has reached out to the New York State Police.
Rita Glavin, Cuomo’s personal attorney, told CNN’s Pamela Brown that she is unaware of any potential plans by the governor to resign. Glavin has repeatedly addressed details of the attorney general’s report.
“To the extent that you are asking me if you are going to resign, I am not aware that the governor has any plans to resign,” he said in a live televised interview Saturday night, adding that Cuomo is focused on the opportunity to give a presentation or evidence to the New York State Assembly for its impeachment investigation, which CNN has reported is nearing completion.
Fabien Levy, spokesperson and senior assistant to State Attorney General Letitia James, has defended the integrity of the investigation.
“The selected independent investigators are widely respected professionals, recognized for their legal and investigative ability,” it said in a statement. “Attacking this investigation and attempting to undermine and politicize this process detracts from the courage shown by these women.”
Investigators at the Davis Polk & Wardwell law firm, hired by the State Assembly to lead the impeachment investigation, are expected to report to the Assembly Judiciary Committee Monday morning.
Judiciary Commission Chairman Charles Lavine, a Democrat, is expected to report to the media before the meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Lavine are expected to hold a press conference after the meeting, Mike Whyland, a Heastie spokesman, confirmed to CNN on Sunday.
Brian Premo, an attorney representing Commisso, told CNN that his client awaited the release of the attorney general’s report before he publicly identified himself in the media.
The full CBS interview and Times Union report are expected to be released Monday morning.
CNN’s Sarah Jorgensen, Lauren del Valle, and Mark Morales contributed to this report.
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