5 August 2021: NY County Prosecutors Lining Up to Charge Cuomo with Sex Harassment Crimes

DAs close in on Gov. Cuomo, launch criminal probes in Manhattan, Westchester

Andrew M. Cuomo can reasonably expect to soon face criminal charges in connection with several of the incidents of sexual harassment documented in the New York State Attorney General's blockbuster report.

A spokesman for outgoing Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance said, “When our office learned yesterday that the Attorney General’s investigation of the Governor’s conduct was complete, our office contacted the Attorney General’s Office to begin requesting investigative materials in their possession pertaining to incidents that occurred in Manhattan.”

Westchester DA Mimi Rocah also issued a statement saying, “As some of the Governor’s conduct described in the report occurred in Westchester County, we have formally requested investigative materials obtained by the AG’s Office.”

And acting Nassau DA Joyce Smith said she was “reviewing the deeply disturbing findings of the Attorney General’s report…and will thoroughly and expeditiously investigate any potential crimes” in her jurisdiction.

The announcements followed a Tuesday night interview in which Albany DA County David Soares said he’d launched a probe and urged any potential victims to cooperate with his office, saying that “we will conduct our investigation as discreetly as possible.”

Should all these jurisdictions pursue criminal charges against Andrew M. Cuomo, his legal bills will almost certainly exceed the $6.5 million NY taxpayers are already on tap to pay. The good news for NY taxpayers though is that Cuomo may potentially be responsible for paying the bills if he is convicted. That's a topic we'll likely be looking closer at in the weeks ahead.