Albany Supreme Court Justice Denise Hartman criticized former Governor Andrew Cuomo for using millions in taxpayer funds to defend against sexual harassment allegations and dismissed a lawsuit by former aide Brittany Commisso, which had settled for $450,000. Cuomo, who fought to keep the case from being dismissed, faced rebuke for seeking extensive discovery and for aggressive legal tactics. State comptroller data show taxpayers have paid at least $20 million for the sexual harassment cases and roughly $60 million overall for legal bills, probes, and related fees. Cuomo resigned in 2021 and continues to deny the accusations.
A New York judge tore into former Gov. Andrew Cuomo Tuesday for using millions in taxpayer cash to defend himself against sexual harassment allegations - as the now-mayoral candidate tries to launder his tarnished public image. The scorching slapdown came as Albany Supreme Court Justice Denise Hartman officially dismissed a lawsuit by Cuomo's one-time executive assistant Brittany Commisso against the state, which settled the case for $450,000 last month.
“Cuomo has not advanced any viable argument for why the taxpayers of this state should continue to foot the bill for his continued use of civil litigation discovery devices to further his efforts to resurrect his public image,” Hartman wrote. Cuomo was a separate party in the case and fought to keep it from being dismissed. Hartman rubberstamped the case's end, but not without excoriating Cuomo for burning through New Yorkers' money to fund his aggressive legal defense.
Taxpayers have shelled out at least $20 million as Cuomo fights the sexual harassment cases, according to state comptroller's office data - and drew queasy condemnations for his belligerent legal defense, which included seeking one accuser's gynecological records. The taxpayer outlay for Cuomo's legal bills overall is roughly $60 million, including probes into the then-gov's handling of the COVID pandemic, his infamous $5 million pandemic book deal and other fees related to defending state agencies.
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