Albany sheriff promises 'overwhelming amount of evidence' against Cuomo

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

NEW SCOTLAND, N.Y. — Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says he was “sandbagged” by the release of the criminal complaint against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, but said that doesn’t hurt the chances of what he characterized as a “solid case.”

“We have an overwhelming amount of evidence. We have a victim who has been cooperating fully every day, every step of the way,” Apple said at a news briefing Friday. “As far as a conviction … it’s really going to come down to a jury, a judge, and the district attorney’s office.”

A misdemeanor complaint on charges of forcible touching against Cuomo was released Thursday. It involves allegations the former governor groped former staffer Brittany Commisso at the Executive Mansion in Albany last year.

The first news of the complaint led to significant confusion. Some reports Thursday afternoon said Cuomo was due to be imminently arrested, while others said the complaint was made in error.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2021/10/29/albany-sheriff-promises-overwhelming-amount-of-evidence-against-cuomo-1392135

[hlthe2b]

1. I would not defend Cuomo, but this is strange if the sheriff is doing this w/o the DA's cooperation?

Is the sheriff going unilateral and chasing a vendetta or political grudge--or is this just a total lack of coordination or is it a power grab-- or is he trying to push a DA who is unwilling to take the next step? Who knows? Even given what we already know about Cuomo, this is hardly how I'd choose to see this play out.

[regnaD kciN]

5. I get the feeling that said sheriff...

…is planning to become a Republican candidate for something in 2022.

[madville]

6. Sheriff is a longtime Democrat

Democrats investigated and forced Cuomo out, didn't need any Republican help. The Democrat that investigated him and found the allegations credible is now even running to take his job lol.

[hamsterjill]

2. So what's the punishment in New York

For a misdemeanor?

[hlthe2b]

3. Up to a year in jail, which he'd never get with no history of prior offenses.

[hamsterjill]

4. All of this timing is interesting to me.

Seriously - just interesting.

Cuomo gets charged yesterday.

Letecia James announces today.

[stillcool]

7. Albany County Sheriff is he...

one of those Constitutional Sheriffs? The ones that believe they are the highest government officials in the land, and have the power to apply or deny the law?

[Kaleva]

8. The sheriff is a Democrat

first elected in 2011

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/29/nyregion/cuomo-charged-brittany-commisso.html

[stillcool]

9. I don't get the NY Times...but

being a Democrat doesn't preclude one from doing anything.

[Kaleva]

15. I haven't found any evidence that supports the idea he may be a constitutional sheriff.

[twodogsbarking]

10. Gropio Cuomo.

[brush]

11. Strong evidence? There must be a video then of Cuomo...

sticking his hand inside her blouse, otherwise it's her word against his.

IMO the sheriff is way out over his skis on this.

[cadoman]

13. there is no longer any benefit to protecting Cuomo or reason for his alleged victims to fear him now

It'd take a huge amount of courage to report an assault by a governor, especially in a uni-party state.

Think how many public officials needed his blessing to advance their careers. At every turn the victim would face people worried about "what would Cuomo do to me if I allowed this to move forward?" It's a natural, systemic protection of powerful people.

Cuomo doesn't have any of those systemic protections right now--if anything there may be a bit of incentive to get him.

[brush]

14. True. But I think the sheriff is trying to make a name for himself.

I mean why wouldn't he coordinate with the DA?

[BlueIdaho]

12. Will he be releasing that evidence in a couple of weeks?

I suspect so since he’s working out of TFG’s playbook.