ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Former New York Gov. on Thursday filed a legal notice that he intends to sue a woman who accused him of sexual harassment.
The accuses former aide Charlotte Bennett of defaming Cuomo in a Dec. 9 statement that said the former governor sexually harassed her.
Bennett as the second woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment, alleging he subjected her to invasive questions about her personal life and sexual relationships. Cuomo denies Bennett's allegations. She later sued over the alleged misconduct in separate cases in state and federal court.
Cuomo after a report from the state attorney general found he sexually harassed at least 11 women.
Earlier this month, Bennett dropped her federal lawsuit against Cuomo before she was to be deposed. In a statement announcing the case was being dropped, a law firm representing Bennett said Cuomo 鈥渟exually harassed鈥� her. Bennett reposted the statement on the social platform X.
Cuomo's attorneys wrote on Thursday that the statement 鈥渨as false and defamatory, and Bennett made it knowing full well that it was false and intending to cause harm to Governor Cuomo.鈥�
His lawyers added that 鈥淐uomo fully intends to clear his name and to ensure that Bennett and her agents never again repeat the falsehood that he sexually harassed Bennet.鈥�
Cuomo is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, according to the filing.
Bennett's attorney on Thursday said a defamation case from Cuomo has no merit.
鈥淭here is a long history of using defamation lawsuits to silence and punish accusers of sexual harassment. It is shameful that Mr. Cuomo has apparently now chosen to go down that path," said attorney Debra S. Katz.
Bennett's lawsuit in state court is ongoing.
A separate investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that Cuomo subjected to a sexually hostile work environment and that his staffers retaliated against four women who raised complaints.
Cuomo, a Democrat, has denied the allegations and has dismissed the investigations as political smears. He has spent the years since his resignation working to rehabilitate his image and hint at a return to political office.
He is rumored to be considering a run for mayor of New York City.
Anthony Izaguirre, The Associated Press
