Andrew Cuomo will choose up the tab for his threatened defamation lawsuit towards a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment, he instructed The Put up — after taxpayers shelled out a whopping $60 million to defend towards his scandals.
State regulation affords Cuomo no probability to pursue authorized motion towards Charlotte Bennett, the accuser whom his legal professionals contend falsely besmirched the previous governor, his dogged chief mouthpiece Wealthy Azzopardi stated Monday.
“The reply is not any,” Azzopardi stated about whether or not Cuomo will ask the state to pay for the potential lawsuit.
New York taxpayers have nonetheless coughed up $60 million as a result of Cuomo efficiently argued that the state ought to pay his authorized prices as he defended himself towards a bevy of scandals trailing his administration since he resigned in shame in 2021.
The huge value contains roughly $18 million to defend Cuomo towards lawsuits filed by former aides and state staff, akin to Bennett, accusing him of sexual harassment.
Cuomo has denied wrongdoing.
Bennett final week ended her lawsuit towards the Empire State for a $450,000 settlement, however Cuomo’s legal professionals rapidly filed a summons in Manhattan courtroom reupping their intent to sue her for defamation.
The potential lawsuit impressed metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, who’s additionally working within the Democratic mayoral main, to carry a information convention close to Metropolis Corridor demanding Cuomo make clear whether or not he or the taxpayers pays for it.
“Andrew, will this new defamation swimsuit be paid by you, or are you gonna attempt to power New York state taxpayers to pay in your extra authorized harassment of individuals you’ve already sexually harassed?” Lander stated Monday.
Azzopardi responded that tax {dollars} have been by no means going to pay for any motion.
“New York Metropolis is in disaster and it is a time for critical leaders with the confirmed file of accomplishment to show it round, not petty extremist ideologues who spend their days standing alone on avenue corners holding press conferences the place no one reveals up,” he stated.
Supply hyperlink
