Executive assistant of Gov. '", "It happened so quick, he didn't say anything. "I almost feel like he has this sense of almost a celebrity status and it just that was the tipping point. Commisso left that job for an opportunity to work for a top official at a state agency, but returned to the Executive Chamber in 2019, when, according to public records, she was hired as a $62,000-a-year administrative assistant a title she still holds to this day. By that November, the Times Union reported, she was being called to assist Cuomo more frequently, including at the Executive Mansion. Cuomo allegedly endured harassment, An investigator says that an executive assistant of Governor Andrew Cuomo endured a series of inappropriate encounters with Governor Andrew Cuomo. It is the first time she has been named publicly. Commisso filed a criminal complaint with the Albany County Sheriffs Office days after the attorney generals report was made public. Then they started to be hugs with kisses on the cheek. Premo asked whether Cuomo would also take a polygraph exam. ", Cuomo has denied this accusation as well, saying, "to touch a woman's breasts, who I hardly know, in the mansion with 10 staff around, with my family in the mansion, to say, 'I don't care who sees us.' I remember looking at them, and when he said, 'can I see them?' In her notes, the Counsel wrote: pushed her up against wall hands up shirt touched breast kissed her. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Brittany Commisso (born in 1989; Age: 32 years old) is an American Executive Assistant #1 from New York. Market data provided by Factset. Jessica Chasmar is a digital writer on the politics team for Fox News and Fox Business. Brittany Commisso was identified as "Executive Assistant #1" in James' report accusing Cuomo of sexually harassing 11 women, including current and former state employees, from 2013 to 2020 in. On August 5, Brittany Commisso filed a criminal complaint at the Sheriffs Office (instead of the Police Department), 10 days before she had her next court date regarding her divorce. They denied the raise and made no other promises. Commisso also brushed aside the governor's suggestion that his accusers were misinterpreting his actions. "The independent investigators selected are widely respected professionals, recognized for their legal and investigatory ability. Was it a blouse that had buttons up the front or just no buttons and he came up from underneath?A. In essence she has accused Governor Cuomo of sexual assault. He didnt say anything. "I never want her to be afraid to speak. To me and the other women that he did this to, oh, it was not normal, Ms. Commisso said. Additionally, on November 25, Cuomo was 225 miles away in Rochester holding a briefing around noon, and then giving out turkeys.The task is now specified as assisting him how to text a note from his iPhone to Benton. She was already thin, but has lost significant weight, is emotionally fragile, and as the mother of a young child remains concerned about job security. A Mommy Blog. On March 9, the lawyer contacted the Executive Chamber saying that he planned to file an administrative complaint on her behalf and that Commisso would not pursue the matter criminally. Brittany Commisso began working as an executive assistant in the governor's office in 2017. 289 Followers, 220 Following, 24 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Frank Commisso Jr. (@commissoforalbany) Ms. Commisso said in the interview that she was afraid a staffer might walk in and get the wrong idea and told Mr. Cuomo, youre going to get us in trouble.. Neither she nor her hubby appear to currently use social media. In addition to the two groping allegations, Commisso also claimed that the governor would hug her inappropriately and that he kissed her on the lips without her consent. This statement was hidden in a footnote of the report. Full video testimony available at OAG website. The Governors Counsel Judith Mogul testified that Commisso told them that Cuomo had forcefully thrown her up against the wall and put his hand under her shirt and felt her breast. (Screenshot from AG report, fn#214, p#31). Commisso alleges that in late 2020, Cuomo hugged her, reached under her blouse, and grabbed her breast in the Executive Mansion. Her estranged husband and his family are involved in Democratic politics in the Albany area. Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer, resigned as chairwoman from the women's advocacy group Time's Up after outrage over the disclosure that she had been enlisted by Cuomo's team in an effort to discredit the same accuser DeRosa had targeted. He told her she looked good for her age, suggested she show some leg, and seemed to take issue with her wearing her hair up, the report said. Thanks for contacting us. I was on the right. The investigator who catches this lie should raise a huge red flag but lets her get away with it, McGrath is considered credible in the AGs report. Andrew Cuomo has identified herself as Brittany Commisso a married mom of one who joined the governors team in 2017. Disclaimer: This disclaimer (Disclaimer) sets forth the general guidelines, disclosures, and terms of your use of the justiceforcuomo.org website (Website or Service) and any of its related products and services (collectively, Services). She said that Mr. Cuomo then slammed the door shut, and slipped his hand under her shirt and grabbed her breast. Only after Cuomos attorney pointed out the evidence refuting the Reports findings regarding Ms. Commisso did she file a criminal complaint with the Albany County Sheriff on August 9, 2021. I mean it was he was like cupping my breast. Cuomo then, according to Commisso, suggested the two try again on the couch. Commisso alleges that on New Years Eve 2019, the governor groped her behind after she helped him with his State of the State speech. A selfie taken by Brittany Commisso with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. When asked why she wrote this, she explains I felt like I needed to say that considering she was with him and he wanted he asked that it be sent to me. When asked how she knew this, she responds I knew after the fact when she told me. (Commisso allegedly called her after she left the mansion). But . Commisso describes her coat as a long winter coat with a zipper and a belt. I never said that, Brittany recalled. Commisso Jr. did not respond to a request for comment. Commisso stated that the incident happened around the day she was tasked to take a photo of the document. She then gave another date to the Times Union which proved impossible. Cuomo, 63, has repeatedly denied that he ever touched anyone inappropriately. He has not been criminally charged. Blackberry PIN messages used by the Protective Services Unit to announce visitors confirmed that Commisso was there on November 16, 2020. Lyons claims that after Commisso told TU and the investigators the groping had occurred around or after Nov. 16 [] she later told the Times Union that the incident had occurred weeks later.Note: In her Submission to the AG on October 20, 2021, Rita Glavin established that the only day Commisso was in the Mansion was December 7, 2020, which was also the day the Sheriffs office claimed the incident happened between 3.51 pm and 4.07 pm. Commisso also denied the governor's claim that he only hugged her on multiple occasions because she initiated the contact and he didn't want to make her feel awkward. Commisso is one of the 11 women who Cuomo was accused of sexually harassing in a damning report by New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Commisso has a clear financial motive. He stopped and she left without further exchange, went to her car, and headed back to the Capitol. That never happened.. Not, you know, quickly brushing over it rubbing my butt.". Then there was at one point a hug, and then when he went to go kiss me on the cheek, he quickly turned his head and he kissed me on the lips.". Her text message exchange with McGrath indicates that they considered the matter entertaining and desirable. He has spent 40 years in public life and for him to all of the sudden be accused of a sexual assault of an executive assistant that he really doesnt know, doesnt pass muster., CBS THIS MORNING EXCLUSIVE: Aide who accused Cuomo of groping speaks publicly for first time, alleging "when he went to go kiss me on the cheek, he quickly turns his head & he kissed me on the lips." ", Commisso said that after watching his denial she "broke down" and told two coworkers "a little bit.". Brittany Commisso, listed as "Executive Assistant #1" in the state attorney general's investigation into alleged sexual harassment by Cuomo in the workplace, came forward in an interview. In her CBS interview, Commisso claimed that after the butt grope they sat down on the couch, where she felt safer, when in fact it puts her in a more vulnerable position. Commisso worked for Cuomo starting 2019 and her estranged husband and family are Democrats who are involved in public in the Albany area. In his defense, Mr. Cuomo told investigators that Ms. Commisso was the initiator of any hugs between them, the report said. I then felt while taking the selfie, his hand go down my back onto my butt, and he started rubbing it. Cuomo accuser Brittany Commisso alleges the N.Y. governor groped her in the executive mansion: 'He thinks he's untouchable' Last Updated: Aug. 10, 2021 at 3:43 p.m. The couple tied the knots in 2016, at their native in Albany, with close people as attendees. Andrew Cuomo groped her under her shirt publicly discussed her allegations against the governor for the first time in a . Commisso is a close friend of another accuser, Alyssa McGrath since high school. The only date in November for which, that I see records that she visited the mansion was on November 16, Ms. Glavin said on MSNBC. They ignored it. A footnote in the report notes that Commisso did not remember the exact date of the incident, but said it was around November 16, 2020. Watch Monday at 7a, only on CBS. And it was certainly not consensual.". Her husband, Frank Commisso Jr., even suggested he had spoken to the Cuomo camp in a tape-recorded conversation Commisso made that discussed the bogus affair, according to a transcript of her interview released Wednesday. Furthermore, Commisso did not agree to an interview with the Albany Police Department. Brittany Commisso, who filed a criminal complaint against Gov. Thats when his alleged creepy behavior began, with hugs she says the governor gave her with the intention of getting some personal sexual satisfaction out of it., He thought this was normal to me, and the other women that he did this to, Commisso said in the interview aired Monday. That was my first day, and that was my first time that I said to myself, I know that wasnt normal. You hear stories about what happens at the Capitol. Clip is edited. With my right hand, I took the selfie," she said. "Therewill be a rolling production of interview transcripts made available to the state Assembly, which will be redacted as needed," he said. Brittany Commisso begged her then-boss Andrew Cuomo for a raise and not to cut her hours in November 2020 despite the fact she'd have to leave early to pick up her daughter from school, he said. Josh Solomon, a capitol bureau reporter. "So we sat down on the couch and in the photo I have my arm wrapped around his shoulder, almost as if we were taking a picture with a buddy. And I thank them, because without them, I don't know if I would have come forward.". I remember going downstairs and escorting myself out and going to my car and sitting there for a second and going, OK, I have to now go back into the Capitol, go back to my desk and do my job and pretend that, like, that didnt just happen. She believes this is because of the seriousness of her allegations. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Let me be clear, he said Tuesday. The investigation was led by employment law attorney Anne Clark and former federal prosecutor Joon Kim. Brittany Commisso C in 2019 was employed in Executive Chamber and had annual salary of $65,220 according to public records. Home; About Us; BLog; Contact Us Mr. Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, was among those who spearheaded the effort, the report said. She said that she was at the governor's mansion that night to help Cuomo with his upcoming State of the State address. Commisso revealed her identity for the first time in a joint interview with "CBS This Morning" and theAlbany Times Union, just days after she became the first of Cuomo's accusers tofile a criminal complaintagainst him. Its clear based on these transcripts that these two people were attempting to use the governor as a pawn for leverage in their messy divorce, said Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi. AG report p. 20, fn#123. And he said, 'Oh, those aren't those aren't good.'". Brittany, Frank's wife, is one of 11 women who have accused the Governor of inappropriate sexual behavior at work. But she claimed that Frank, a former Albany Common Council member who works for the New York State and Local Retirement System, then tried to use the affair claim as a way to get out of paying child support for their daughter allegedly threatening to amend his no-fault divorce filing to one saying she had been unfaithful. Representation: Any views or opinions represented on the Website belong solely to the content creators and do not represent those of people, institutions or organizations that the Operator or creators may or may not be associated with in professional or personal capacity, unless explicitly stated. He cupped my breast, she told investigators. And the interactions she described and the timing of it dont match up at all.. Changes and amendments: We reserve the right to modify this Disclaimer or its terms related to the Website and Services at any time at our discretion. She spoke in late 2020 and early 2021 to her supervisors about having to leave early,. Ms. Commisso also criticized the governor for saying in his defense that he commonly hugs, kisses and touches people in an effort to put them at ease. Commisso was married in 2016 to former Albany Common Council member Frank Commisso Jr., the son of Albany County Legislator Frank Commisso Sr., a Democrat. The investigation was conducted to support a predetermined narrative and in our legal system, both sides are heard and given access to the evidence, but here, instead of acting as independent fact-finders, the investigators acted as prosecutors, judge, and jury. One of the women who accused New YorkGov. Any suggestion that attempts to undermine the credibility of these women or this investigation is unfortunate., Anne Clark: Meet the Lawyer Who Led the Cuomo Sexual Harassment Investigation, Brittany Commisso: Cuomo Executive Assistant #1 Speaks Out Publicly, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. As a result, I am currently 32 years old. They are there to protect him. Cuomo testified that he called them mingle mamas in response to Commisso and McGrath saying that they were single and ready to mingle. After finishing her draft of the speech, she said, Mr. Cuomo suggested the two of them take a selfie. Andrew Cuomo of groping her at the Executive Mansion, is interviewed at the Times Union on Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Colonie, N.Y. Will Waldron/Times . Legal Statement. Early in 2020, when McGrath and Commisso assisted the governor in preparing the State of the State books, they told Cuomo about planning a trip to Florida in April. It was not welcomed, and it was certainly not consensual.. I remember seeing I was wearing a black bra and I could see my black bra cup. After Cuomo and his attorneys responded to the report in a video statement and at a press conference, James and the attorney generals office issued a statement on August 6 saying, After multiple women made accusations that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed them, the governor, himself, requested that Attorney General James oversee an independent investigation. Commisso claims that she took several photos before during which it happened, but that she deleted them because they were blurry. The divorce proceedings are ongoing, with a trial set for March 16, 2022, in Albany court. Report by Executive Assistants #2 and #3, March 8, 2021:The Governor pushed her / threw her aginst the wall, put his hand under his shirt, touched her breast and kissed her. Maybe he had a letter or dictation that he wanted to do, and he said no, thats it. "There was a speech that he gave less than a month ago, and in his speech, he said, 'If you give New Yorkers the truth and you give New Yorkers the facts, the good, the bad, the ugly, they will do the right thing.' "I have to tell you it was at the moment I was in such shock that I could just tell you that I just remember looking down seeing his hand, seeing the top of my bra and I remember it was like a little even the cup the kind of bra that I had to the point I could tell you doesnt really fit me properly, it was a little loose, I just remember seeing exactly that.

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