Andrew Cuomo’s attorney asked Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Sr. to “preserve
everything relating to” its investigation into the former governor’s sexual
misconduct case.
According to a letter sent
by Rita Glavin, that would include
phone records, text messages and email.
"In
an attempt to deflect from his bizarre and unprofessional rouge investigation
that resulted in a criminal charge 'erroneously' being filed against former
Gov. Cuomo, Albany Sheriff Craig Apple claimed there was an 'overwhelming
amount of evidence' gathered in this case. However, every item listed by his
investigator only verifies uncontested facts that this employee was in and out
of the governor's mansion as part of her job — there is zero corroborating evidence that a crime occurred."
Glavin stated the governor has denied the allegations from the beginning and
does not believe any politician has evidence proving otherwise.
A New York sheriff on Friday defended his
decision to file a criminal complaint against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
without consulting prosecutors or the accuser, a woman who says the Democrat
groped her late last year.
Sheriff Apple said on Friday he was confident in the strength of the case,
which he said was based on witness interviews and voluminous records.
“I feel very confident that the district
attorney is going to prosecute this,” he told reporters at a news conference in Albany, the state
capital.
A court summons requires Cuomo to appear for an arraignment on Nov. 17, though
that date could change.
He will be allowed to report voluntarily, but Undersheriff William Rice told
The Associated Press the ex-governor will be booked at the sheriff's
headquarters, including being photographed, fingerprinted and probably placed
in handcuffs during a transport to court. Cuomo will not likely spend any time
in a holding cell, Rice said.
The one-page complaint filed in Albany City Court accuses Cuomo of forcible
touching by putting his hand under a woman’s shirt on Dec. 7.
AP Wire Services were used in this report.