Former Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, announced on Thursday his intention to file a lawsuit against Charlotte Bennett, the woman who accused him of sexual harassment. The legal notice accuses Bennett of defamation stemming from a statement she released on December 9, in which she claimed Cuomo had sexually harassed her.
Charlotte Bennett emerged in 2021 as the second individual to accuse Cuomo of inappropriate conduct, alleging that he asked her invasive questions regarding her personal life and sexual relationships. Cuomo has consistently denied these allegations. Bennett later initiated a lawsuit related to the alleged misconduct in both state and federal courts.
Cuomo submitted his resignation in 2021 following a report from the state attorney general that indicated he had sexually harassed at least eleven women. Earlier this month, Bennett chose to withdraw her federal lawsuit against him before her deposition was scheduled to take place. In the announcement regarding the case’s dismissal, Bennett’s legal representation reiterated that Cuomo had indeed sexually harassed her, a statement that Bennett shared on the social media platform X.
In response, Cuomo’s legal team claimed the statement from Bennett was “false and defamatory” and that Bennett was aware of its inaccuracy when she made it, with the intention of harming Cuomo’s reputation. His lawyers asserted that Cuomo is determined to vindicate his name and ensure that Bennett, along with her associates, does not repeat the allegations of harassment moving forward. According to the notice, Cuomo is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.
Bennett’s attorney responded to Cuomo’s defamation threat by asserting that the case lacks legal basis. Attorney Debra S. Katz criticized Cuomo’s move, stating there is a troubling precedent of using defamation lawsuits to intimidate and retaliate against those who report sexual harassment. She labeled Cuomo’s actions as shameful, indicating he has chosen to follow this path.
Bennett’s ongoing lawsuit remains active in state court. In a related development, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice concluded that Cuomo created a hostile work environment for at least thirteen state employees, while also retaliating against four women who raised their concerns.
A spokesperson for Cuomo highlighted that five district attorneys in New York decided not to pursue criminal charges against him after reviewing the allegations. Cuomo, who is a member of the Democratic Party, has refuted the allegations and dismissed the investigations as politically motivated attacks. Since his resignation, he has focused on improving his public image and is rumored to be contemplating a run for mayor of New York City in the future.