13 September 2022: Andrew Cuomo Accuses NY Attorney General Tish James of Misconduct

Andrew Cuomo accuses AG Tish James of misconduct in sex harassment probe

In the latest legal development since he resigned in disgrace as New York's governor, Andrew M. Cuomo has filed an ethics complaint against New York state attorney general Letitia "Tish" James. Here's an excerpt:

Disgraced ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed an ethics complaint against Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday — alleging that she repeatedly violated attorney conduct rules in connection with the sexual harassment probe that forced him to resign under threat of impeachment last year.

In his latest attempt to avenge himself against his accusers, Cuomo said James had “an intolerable personal and political conflict of interest” and “engaged in a terrible and quite obvious manipulation of facts, evidence and the law” during and after her blockbuster investigation....

Cuomo’s 48-page letter to the state First Judicial Department’s Attorney Grievance Committee rehashed many of the same arguments that his defense lawyer, Rita Glavin, made during a series of news conferences following his Aug. 10, 2021, resignation.

But that doesn't mean it was a total rehash of Cuomo's tired claims.

... he also seized on an exclusive, front-page report in The Post last year that revealed how a state police bodyguard allegedly spotted the then-governor and his top aide, Melissa DeRosa, “making out on the sidewalk like high schoolers.”

Cuomo accused James of intentionally including “inflammatory hearsay” testimony even though she “knew she had directly contrary information and chose not to release it.”

Aside from that, it mostly was a rehash of Cuomo's tired claims, in which Cuomo also attacked the independent lawyers who conducted the probe for the attorney general:

In addition to targeting James, Cuomo’s letter to the Grievance Committee alleges misconduct by the two outside lawyers she hired to conduct the investigation that concluded he sexually harassed 11 women, including nine current or former state workers.

Cuomo alleged that the lawyers — former acting Manhattan US Attorney Joon Kim and Anne Clark, an expert in employment discrimination — exhibited “bias” and misled the public with a 168-page report that “deliberately omitted evidence contradicting allegations of sexual harassment and undermining witness and complainant credibility.”

The report concludes with the AG's office's response:

In a prepared statement, the AG’s Office said, “Attorney General James, Joon Kim, and Anne Clark hold themselves to the highest ethical standards.”

“Mr. Cuomo resigned after an independent investigation revealed that he preyed on multiple women who worked for him. New Yorkers are ready to move forward and close this sordid chapter in our state’s history,” the statement added.

Andrew M. Cuomo chose to resign rather than face impeachment proceedings where he could have loudly argued his claims.