Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday filed a notice of defamation suit against a former aide who previously filed a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harassment, claiming he was defamed in the process.
“The essence of this lawsuit is the suffering that Governor Cuomo has suffered and continues to suffer as a result of the false statements made by Mr. Bennett and his representatives on December 9, 2024, that Governor Cuomo “engaged in sexual conduct.” “The purpose of this lawsuit is to recover compensatory and punitive damages for serious injuries and losses “harassed Bennett,” the legal notice Cuomo filed against Charlotte Bennett on Thursday states.
“Ms. Bennett’s representatives tweeted this statement on December 9, 2024, with the caption: “Debra Katz and Charlotte Bennett announce Bennett’s lawsuit against Andrew Cuomo, who sexually harassed her, in U.S. District Court in SDNY. “Release of statement following news of voluntary rejection,” reposted her agent’s tweet, whose derogatory statement on Dec. 9 has garnered more than 90,000 views. This was made in response to numerous public accusations made by Bennett and her representatives against Governor Cuomo that were widely disseminated, false and defamatory. , which Bennett made with full knowledge that it was false and intended to cause harm. To Governor Cuomo. ”
Bennett was one of several women to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, ultimately leading to his resignation in 2021.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed a notice of defamation lawsuit Thursday against former aide Charlotte Bennett. (Getty Images)
“I never want to be of no use in any way. Given the circumstances, I think the best way for me to help right now is for me to step aside and let the government return to governing. So I’m going to do that,” Cuomo said at the time, denying the charges against him and claiming that state investigators in Attorney General Letitia James’ office were biased against him. Ta.
“I have inadvertently called people ‘honey,’ ‘sweetheart,’ and ‘darling,'” Cuomo said at the time. “I meant it to be affectionate, but women found it outdated and offensive.” Ta. “I take full responsibility for my actions. I’m too used to people. My sense of humor can be insensitive and offensive.”
“In my mind, I don’t think I ever crossed the line with anyone, but I didn’t realize how much the lines were being redrawn,” he added. “There was a generational and cultural shift that we didn’t fully appreciate. And we should have. There are no excuses.”
Bennett withdrew his 2022 lawsuit against Cuomo in December, on the eve of his deposition in the case.
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“Since Bennett filed her lawsuit in federal court in September 2022, former Governor Cuomo has taken every opportunity to file an alarming number of invasive discovery requests,” said Debra Katz, Bennett’s attorney. , have harassed our client with outrageous statements designed to embarrass and humiliate Ms. Bennett.” said in a statement when the lawsuit was dismissed on Dec. 9. “These include requests for the medical records of unrelated professionals such as:” doctors such as gynecologists and optometrists, as well as medical records from more than a decade ago, when she was a minor. It is. ”
“This investigation unearthed material that disparaged our client, as the New York State Attorney General’s Office concluded after a lengthy investigation that Mr. Cuomo sexually harassed Mr. Bennett and at least 11 other women. From the fact that I went It was aimed at distracting attention, and before Mr. Cuomo waged a multiyear, multimillion-dollar legal battle against Mr. Bennett, funded by New York state taxpayers. However, it is important not to lose sight of the following facts: At a press conference in March 2021, he apologized for “offending anyone” and “any pain I caused anyone,” adding, “Some of what I said may have been misinterpreted as unwanted.” I acknowledge what happened.” To the extent that anyone felt that way, I’m truly sorry about that. ” His apology was hollow. ”
Cuomo’s attorney, Richard Azzopardi, praised Bennett’s decision to drop the case at the time, saying the allegations had “unfairly smeared” the former governor “for years.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo prepares to board a helicopter after announcing his resignation in New York, August 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
“Ms. Bennett’s decision to drop the baseless case should be seen as a complete capitulation and a desperate attempt to avoid facing a mountain of acquittals that completely deny her claims – AG – including contemporaneous documents and videos never obtained by the office of Governor Cuomo,” he said in a statement to FOX News Digital.
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“Ms. Bennett, who has unfairly slandered Governor Cuomo for years, has filed a deposition to avoid having to admit under oath that her claims are false and that there is no basis for her claims. “They suddenly dropped the federal lawsuit the day before it was filed,” he said. “If New York state were to cave in and settle the case under a public pressure campaign, it would not be on the merits of the case and we should demand that all the evidence be released so that New Yorkers can finally know the truth. Governor Cuomo has never sexually harassed anyone.
In a statement to the Times Union, Katz pushed back against Cuomo’s notice of claim, calling it “without merit.”
“There is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish sexual harassment accusers,” Katz said. “It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has clearly chosen to go down that path.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Katz for comment, but he did not immediately respond.
Cuomo’s notice alleges that Bennett “cynically exploited” her conversations with Cuomo to “advance” her career and that her “false claims materially contributed to a series of harms against Governor Cuomo.” “contributed to.”
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter for FOX News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email your tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
