A New York State trooper who says former NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed her filed a lawsuit against Cuomo in federal court on Thursday, February 17.
The trooper, whose name has not been disclosed, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan against Cuomo, New York State Police, and former Cuomo aide Melissa DeRosa, according to News10 NBC.
The suit seeks attorney fees, damages for hardship, and a judgement stating Cuomo, state police, and DeRosa violated civil laws on federal, state, and city level that prohibit sexual harassment.
“He commented on her appearance (‘why don’t you wear a dress?); wanted to kiss her (‘(c)an I kiss you?’); asked her to find him a girlfriend who could ‘handle pain;’ and steered their conversations towards sex (‘(w)hy would you want to get married? … your sex drive goes down’),” said the suit.
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi responded to the lawsuit on Thursday, saying Cuomo “will fight every attempt at cheap cash extortion.” The former governor told state investigators he remembers hugging the trooper hello, but not touching her inappropriately.
The trooper also claims DeRosa helped “cover up” Cuomo’s sexual harassment, which DeRosa has denied.
The NYS Police have declined to comment on the lawsuit.
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