Charlotte Bennett, a onetime aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has voluntarily dropped the federal lawsuit she filed against him and several of his aides two years ago. In the lawsuit, Bennett had accused Cuomo of sexually harassing her and tarnishing her reputation after she became the second woman to publicly accuse him of misconduct. Bennett’s attorney, Debra Katz, stated that Bennett will continue with the suit against the state, her former employer.
Bennett expressed that Cuomo’s legal tactics were meant to harass and retaliate against her and her supporters, causing unnecessary humiliation. Katz alleged that Cuomo’s actions were an attempt to punish Bennett and others who reported his misconduct, all at the expense of New York taxpayers. Bennett’s lawsuit was initially filed in federal court in New York City in September 2022, with allegations of unwanted advances and inappropriate behavior by Cuomo.
Cuomo resigned as governor in August 2021 after an investigation by state Attorney General Letitia James found that he had sexually harassed multiple women, including Bennett. Cuomo’s lawyers stated that Bennett’s decision to drop the lawsuit was a “desperate attempt” to avoid facing evidence that refuted her claims. They emphasized that Cuomo had never sexually harassed anyone.
The lawsuit’s dismissal comes amidst a backdrop of ongoing legal battles and public scrutiny over Cuomo’s behavior while in office. Bennett’s decision to drop the case is seen as a significant development in the ongoing fallout from the allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo.
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