According to a document made accessible by the State of New York on Thursday, the US Department of Justice investigates sexual harassment charges against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The document in question describes a contract approved earlier this week by New York officials for legal services to aid the current governor's office in responding to several state and federal inquiries into the Cuomo administration's activities.
"The Department of Justice has also launched an investigation into sexual harassment claims made against the then-governor," the contract states.
Along with the sexual harassment charges, the record indicated that Cuomo was under investigation for his administration's handling of coronavirus-related deaths in nursing facilities. Last August, the DOJ opted against initiating a civil rights probe into the nursing home scandal.
Additionally, the paper stated that questions had been raised about whether Cuomo utilized state funds to publish a book recounting his leadership during the pandemic's peak and other aspects of the state's COVID-19 response.
The Department of Justice did not reply quickly to a request for comment. Cuomo was unavailable for comment.
The New York Post broke the story of the contract announcing the DOJ investigation first.
Cuomo, a Democrat, resigned in August after coming under increasing legal and political pressure following a damning report by state Attorney General Letitia James. The audit concluded that he sexually assaulted 11 women, ruining the three-term governor's legacy.
Cuomo also sexually harassed women, used state resources for the book, and issued hazy data on COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes, according to an inquiry by the Democratic-led state Assembly, which threatened impeachment proceedings against him.
Cuomo has categorically disputed the charges leveled against him. In August, he stated that he accepted "complete responsibility" for what he described as ill-advised attempts to be friendly or amusing but that he would retire for the state's good.
According to the former governor, James' probe was politically motivated. Rita Galvin, Cuomo's attorney, has urged James, who has declared her bid for governor, to recuse herself from any investigations involving the governor.
Kathy Hochul, the current governor, signed an agreement in October to retain the services of Willkie Farr & Gallagher of New York. On Thursday, her office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
