A 2021 investigation launched by New York Attorney General Leticia James found that former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women, including an unnamed New York State Police (NYSP) trooper.

Yet in a stunning move, Cuomo has responded by launching a $8.6 million lawsuit against the woman in question. 

Lawsuit alludes to "planned, coordinated" attack on Cuomo by state police

According to the Washington Examiner, lawyer  Rita Glavin is representing Cuomo, and she laid out a series of claims against the woman who is only identified as Trooper.

"Trooper 1’s allegations against him are false and were part and parcel of a plan to attack Governor Cuomo that Trooper 1 and other members of the NYSP planned, coordinated, and executed because they were disgruntled with Governor Cuomo for reasons entirely unrelated to any purported harassment or retaliation," Glavin's filing reads.

Cuomo's lawsuit is seeking  $8.6 million in "interest, attorney’s fees, costs, and disbursements, as permitted by law or statute."

The Examiner noted that Trooper 1 filed a lawsuit against Cuomo and his spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, along with the former governor's top aide, Melissa DeRosa.

Trooper 1 accused the three figures of attempting to silence and retaliate against her, but a federal judge dismissed the case last year.

Lawsuit: Trooper 1 "copied and pasted" allegations from AG report

Azzopardi is also suing Trooper 1, and he told the Examiner that "whatever is recovered in legal fees would be returned to taxpayers."

Andrew Cuomo sues accuser for $8.6 million in legal fees https://t.co/o7fk7iWwsI

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 1, 2025

Moreover, Glavin provided a statement to the Examiner that Trooper 1 had "copied and pasted the AG’s since-discredited report into her complaint, relying on allegations of women she did not know."

"We repeatedly asked Trooper 1 to drop those women from her suit to avoid this costly and unnecessary litigation, but she refused," Glavin continued.

Cuomo announces mayoral campaign, says "city is in crisis"

Cuomo's lawsuit comes roughly two months after the former governor kicked off his campaign for mayor of New York City.

"Our city is in crisis," the BBC quoted Cuomo as saying in an announcement on March 1. "We need government to work. We need effective leadership."

The BBC noted that Cuomo has been endorsed by New York Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres, who said that he "has the competence to govern the city" and can "stand up to extremist politics - both from the far left and far right."