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A district attorney said Tuesday that while accounts from two women of former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unwantedly kissing them were "credible," Cuomo would not face criminal charges.
The two allegations, occurring in Westchester County, are part of a series of sexual misconduct accusations against the former governor.
In a statement, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah said while there was evidence of the allegations' truth, the office could not pursue charges because of legal issues.
"In both instances, my office has determined that, although the allegations and witnesses were credible, and the conduct concerning, we cannot pursue criminal charges due to the statutory requirements of the criminal laws of New York," Rocah said.
One account came from a state trooper who was part of Cuomo's security detail. According to investigators, while at Cuomo's home in Mount Kisco, the trooper asked Cuomo if he needed anything, to which he responded by asking whether he could kiss her.
Though the trooper said she didn't want to, she replied "sure" out of fear of the repercussions of saying no.
In a separate investigation, the trooper also described instances of Cuomo inappropriately touching her. In that case, the Nassau County district attorney similarly could not file criminal charges due to what state law determines to be criminal.
The second account took place at an event at White Plains High School, the district attorney's office said. It described Cuomo grabbing a woman's arm, pulling her in and kissing her on the cheek.
A message seeking comment was left with a spokesperson for Cuomo.
Last week, a Long Island prosecutor said Cuomo wouldn't face criminal charges after the same trooper said she felt "completely violated" by his unwanted touching at an event at Belmont Park in September 2019. Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said the allegations were credible and troubling but not criminal under state law.
A report in August by Attorney General Letitia James chronicled accusations from 11 women against Cuomo and led to his resignation from office, although he has attacked the findings as biased and inaccurate.
In October, the Albany County sheriff's office filed a misdemeanor groping complaint against Cuomo, but a week later the district attorney asked a judge for more time to evaluate the evidence.
The district attorney said the sheriff's one-page criminal complaint, based on allegations from a woman who said Cuomo slid his hand up her blouse and grabbed her breast at the governor's mansion in late 2020, was "potentially defective."
At the prosecutor's request, a court delayed Cuomo's scheduled arraignment until Jan. 7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
