Second woman sues Andrew Cuomo, alleging sexual harassment

ALBANY — A second woman on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, in an action stemming from the sexual harassment scandal that prompted him to resign just over a year ago.

Former executive assistant Charlotte Bennett, in a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, says Cuomo subjected her to “sexualized comments about her appearance, assigned her humiliating and demeaning tasks, and beginning in early June 2020, subjected her to invasive and unwanted questions about her personal life, romantic and sexual relationships, and history as a survivor of sexual assault."

According to the suit, Cuomo “told her he was ‘lonely,’” and that he “wanted a girlfriend who lived in Albany.”

Bennett said the alleged actions amounted to a “sexual advance.”

Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, said in a statement Wednesday that Cuomo “has always said he didn’t harass anyone."

Glavin continued: "With each day that goes by more and more information is uncovered showing how evidence favorable to the governor was suppressed and crucial facts ignored or omitted that undermined witness credibility. … We’ll see them in court.”

On Tuesday, Cuomo filed a complaint with a state disciplinary committee against state Attorney General Letitia James, who filed a report in August 2021 detailing several women's' sexual harassment accusations against Cuomo.

Cuomo resigned from office a week later.

Cuomo accused James of suppressing testimony concerning doubts about the accusations, and spreading falsehoods that he had sexually harassed women.

Cuomo noted five prosecutors have decided against filing criminal charges against the former governor.

Prosecutors said the women's testimony was credible, but said they would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Cuomo had committed crimes, and that they also were hamstrung by the lack of a criminal law covering sexual harassment.

Bennett was 23 years old at the time she said Cuomo, then 62, sexually harassed her.

Bennett's federal suit alleges that Cuomo asked about her sexual activity and told her to memorize the lyrics of the song “Danny Boy,” which she said Cuomo demanded she sing for him and two top aides.

Bennett also said Cuomo once sang to her: “Do you love me, do you really love me?”

Cuomo resigned on Aug. 10, 2021, saying he couldn’t get a fair hearing to rebut the "politically motivated" attacks on him.

He also argued an impeachment trial would have been a distraction for the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bennett's lawsuit also names three of Cuomo's former top aides as defendants: Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa, Chief of Staff Jill DesRosiers and Special Counsel Judith Mogul.

Bennett alleges those staffers failed to protect her from sexual harassment or retaliation.

In February, a woman identified only as Trooper No. 1 sued Cuomo.

James’ report said the state trooper, who for a period was assigned to Cuomo’s protection unit, said Cuomo had made inappropriate comments to her and engaged in unwanted physical contact while she was assigned to his detail at a public event held at Belmont Park in Elmont in 2017.

By Michael Gormley

michael.gormley@newsday.com@GormleyAlbany

Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.