A former assistant to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo filed a discrimination go well with towards him Wednesday — that alleges he as soon as joked about getting investigated for sexual harassment over an incident involving her.
Charlotte Bennett’s Manhattan federal court docket submitting claims that in a June 5, 2020, assembly in Cuomo’s workplace, he made a crack about how watching her COVID-19 masks transfer when she breathed reminded him of the monsters within the film ‘”Predator.”
After Bennett “laughed uncomfortably,” Cuomo allegedly foresaw the implications.
“If I had been investigated for sexual harassment, I must say I informed her she regarded like a monster,” he mentioned, in line with the go well with.
Bennett’s go well with, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges that Cuomo repeatedly subjected her to humiliating sexual harassment and tried to smear her as a liar when she went public.
It additionally targets former Cuomo high lieutenant Melissa DeRosa and two different aides who allegedly “aided and abetted” him.
“My profession as a public servant was abruptly reduce brief due to Governor Cuomo’s and his high aides’ sexual harassment and retaliation towards me after I complained about Governor Cuomo’s misconduct,” Bennett mentioned in a ready assertion.
“They need to all be held accountable for his or her actions.”
In February 2021, Bennett, then 25, grew to become the second girl to publicly accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, telling the New York Occasions that he requested her creepy questions on her intercourse life, together with whether or not she engaged in open relationships or ever slept with older males.
Bennett went on to develop into considered one of Cuomo’s most outspoken accusers, calling him a “hazard” to ladies and demanding that he be impeached “instantly” after Legal professional Basic Letitia James launched a bombshell report alleging that he harassed Bennett and 10 different ladies.
Cuomo, 64, has constantly denied any wrongdoing, however resigned in shame per week after James issued her report, saying that a battle to stay in workplace would “value the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars” and “brutalize individuals.”
Bennett’s go well with was filed in the future after Cuomo filed a professional-misconduct criticism towards James and the skin attorneys she employed to analyze him.
Bennett’s 60-page criticism alleges when she labored for Cuomo between Might 2019 and June 2020, he “subjected her to sexualized feedback about her look, assigned her humiliating and demeaning duties, and starting in early June 2020, subjected her to invasive and undesirable questions on her private life, romantic and sexual relationships, and historical past as a survivor of sexual assault.”
“He informed her he was ‘lonely,’” wished a girlfriend who lived in Albany, and was keen thus far somebody over the age of 21 years outdated,” the go well with says.
“Cuomo’s feedback and conduct had been unwelcome and Ms. Bennett moderately perceived them to represent a sexual advance.”
Bennett says she “promptly” complained to Cuomo’s then-chief of employees, co-defendant Judith DesRosiers. However as an alternative of “taking acceptable corrective measures,” DesRosiers transferred Bennett to an “inferior place” on Cuomo’s well being coverage staff.
Neither DesRosiers nor Judith Mogul, Cuomo’s particular counsel on the time, interviewed Bennett till after she informed different colleagues about Cuomo’s alleged harassment, both, in line with the go well with.
As well as, DesRosiers, Mogul and DeRosa allegedly violated state coverage by failing to refer Bennett’s criticism to the Authorities Workplace of Worker Relations.
The three are additionally accused of “sustaining and contributing to an workplace surroundings” the place ladies had been pressured to put on “historically female apparel, together with clothes and excessive heels,” at any time when Cuomo was round.
Bennett’s go well with says that her remedy precipitated “near-debilitating anxiousness” and “signs of despair” and that she “started affected by a power neurological dysfunction” that compelled her to take medical depart and an “involuntary resignation.”
Bennett additionally alleges that Cuomo retaliated towards her for cooperating with the AG’s probe, saying he “used his media platform to painting her as a liar.”
After James launched her report, Cuomo continued his retaliation marketing campaign towards Bennett “by smearing her repute and in any other case trying to discredit her throughout press conferences” and on his marketing campaign web site, the go well with says.
“In finishing up this smear marketing campaign, Governor Cuomo and his aides enlisted the help of his brother, Chris Cuomo, then an anchor on CNN, and others,” in line with court docket papers.
In a ready assertion, Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, mentioned he “has at all times mentioned he didn’t harass anybody and with every day that goes by increasingly data is uncovered exhibiting how proof favorable to [Cuomo] was suppressed and essential information ignored or omitted that undermined witness credibility.”
“What else will come out through the discovery course of? We’ll see them in court docket,” she added.
The opposite defendants didn’t instantly return requests for remark.
The girl who first accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, former state financial improvement official Lindsey Boylan, known as Bennett “courageous” and a “warrior” for deciding to sue the previous Democratic governor.
“I really feel nothing however immense love and profoundly grounded when ladies assert themselves and battle again,” Boylan tweeted.
“It's a win for all ladies.”
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