January 1, NY sheriff stands by decision to file criminal complaint against Cuomo

New York Sheriff Craig Apple stood by his decision to file a criminal complaint against disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for groping a woman last year without consulting prosecutors or the accuser.

“I feel very confident that the district attorney is going to prosecute this,” Apple said at a news conference in Albany.

Cuomo is bound by a court summons to appear for an arraignment on November 17, though that date could change.

According to Undersheriff William Rice, once Cuomo arrives for his arraignment, he will go through the booking process at the sheriff’s headquarters, including being photographed, fingerprinted, and likely handcuffed during a transport to court. The former governor will not likely spend any time in a holding cell, Rice said.

The complaint accuses Cuomo of forcible touching by putting his hand under a woman’s shirt on December 7. Though the one-page document didn’t name the woman, she identified herself as Brittany Commisso, one of Cuomo’s former executive assistants.

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Sheriff defends filing of criminal complaint against Cuomo