Former Andrew Cuomo aide settles sexual misconduct lawsuit for $450K

The state of New York and a former aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Friday agreed to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed against the Democrat for $450,000.

Cuomo's former executive assistant Brittany Commisso accused her former boss of sexual misconduct in 2021. Commisso claimed the misconduct occurred in 2020 at the Executive Mansion in Albany.

Commisso claimed she was called into the then-governor's office at the mansion to help with supposed mobile phone issues. When she reached his office, Cuomo got up from behind his desk and allegedly groped her in a sexually aggressive manner.

Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination, has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. 

The new settlement, which was reached by Gov. Kathy Hochul's office, includes a caveat that Commisso will not seek employment in the governor's office through 2030. 

“The state’s settlement with Ms. Commisso, at nearly half a million dollars, is a complete vindication of her claims,” her attorneys said in a statement to the Times Union. “Ms. Commisso is proud to have reported the truth and vindicated her rights in court, and likewise glad to be able to move forward with her life."

Commisso filed the lawsuit in 2023 under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which allowed sexual assault survivors, who were 18 at the time of the incident, to sue their alleged abuser after the statute of limitations expired. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.