Cuomo Accuser Gives First Interview, Says Governor 'Broke The Law'

An executive assistant to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) who accused him of groping her inside the executive mansion is speaking out publicly for the first time.

The governor needs to be held accountable, Brittany Commisso told CBS This Morning and the Albany Times-Union in a joint interview broadcast in full on Monday.

What he did was a crime. He broke the law, she says in a clip of the interview released on Sunday.

Commissos comments come after she filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo with the Albany Sheriffs Office on Thursday. Commisso, in the interview, said, It was the right thing to do.

CBS THIS MORNING EXCLUSIVE: The aide who accused NY Gov. Cuomo of groping her speaks publicly for the first time: \"What he did to me was a crime,\" Brittany Commisso tells @CBSThisMorning & @timesunion. \"He broke the law.\" Watch Monday at 7a, only on CBS. https://t.co/W9SGPNSf1S pic.twitter.com/kRulD0ViUD

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CBS THIS MORNING EXCLUSIVE: The aide who accused NY Gov. Cuomo of groping her speaks publicly for the first time: "What he did to me was a crime," Brittany Commisso tells @CBSThisMorning & @timesunion . "He broke the law." Watch Monday at 7a, only on CBS. https://t.co/W9SGPNSf1S pic.twitter.com/kRulD0ViUD
CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) August 8, 2021

Commisso had previously only been identified as Executive Assistant #1 in a report on sexual harassment claims against Cuomo completed by the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James. In that report , Commisso said the governor reached under her blouse and groped her breast while they were alone at the governors mansion last year.

She said he also groped her on New Years Eve in 2019, after he asked her to take a selfie with him inside of his office.

As she held up the camera, she said Cuomo moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and began to rub it. The rubbing lasted at least five seconds, according to James report.

Commisso also accused the governor of regularly hugging her and kissing her on the cheek. She said he kissed her on the lips once, as well.

These were not hugs that he would give his mother or, you know, his brother, Commisso said during the interview. These were hugs with the intention of getting some personal sexual satisfaction out of.

Commisso said she didnt come forward until recently because she feared retaliation by the governor.

I felt as though if I did something to insult him, especially insult him in his own home, it wasnt going to be him that was going to get fired or in trouble, she said, adding that his alleged advances were not normal, not welcomed and certainly not consensual.

WATCH: The aide who accused NY Gov. Cuomo of groping her is speaking publicly for the first time.

Brittany Commisso tells @CBSThisMorning & @timesunion Cuomo gave her intimate hugs and kisses allegations he denies. pic.twitter.com/MHjkDvRSoZ

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WATCH: The aide who accused NY Gov. Cuomo of groping her is speaking publicly for the first time.

Brittany Commisso tells @CBSThisMorning & @timesunion Cuomo gave her intimate hugs and kisses allegations he denies. pic.twitter.com/MHjkDvRSoZ
CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) August 9, 2021

When questioned as part of James investigation, Cuomo denied the allegations. He did say that he often hugs and kisses people, and may have kissed certain staff members on the lips without remembering whom.

Similar allegations against the governor from 10 other women were included in James report.

Cuomo has faced resignation calls from many top Democrats , including President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. But Cuomo has so far refused to step down.

Cuomos top aide, Melissa DeRosa, announced her resignation Sunday, ditching the governors shrinking circle of loyalists. The state attorney generals report found DeRosa spearheaded efforts to retaliate against one of the women who publicly accused the third-term Democrat in December.

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DeRosa did not name Cuomo or mention the sexual harassment allegations in her resignation announcement.

Personally, the past 2 years have been emotionally and mentally trying, DeRosa wrote in her statement. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to have worked with such talented and committed colleagues on behalf of our state.