Court records show that the former staff member who accused former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment has chosen to withdraw her federal lawsuit against him.
Charlotte Bennett’s attorneys filed a voluntary notice of dismissal without prejudice on Monday, December 9, ending the legal action she initiated against her former boss in 2022.
Bennet dropped her lawsuit on the eve of her deposition, Bennett’s attorney, Debra Katz of Katz Banks Kumin wrote in a release.
Bennett’s lawsuit describes the questions as both “inappropriate” and said they made her “uncomfortable.”
According to the allegations, Cuomo requested Bennett to accompany him on trips and proceeded to inquire about her personal interests, to which she disclosed activities like weightlifting, skiing, and running.
Cuomo allegedly then asked how much weight Bennett could bench press as well as how many pushups she had the ability to do. He then challenged her to a “pushup competition,” the lawsuit alleges.
Bennett also alleges Cuomo made “sexual advances” toward her, and cited a June 25, 2020, incident.
She said in the lawsuit that while Cuomo was discussing a proposal on police reform, he said that the way Charlotte’s mask moved in and out when she breathes reminded him of the monsters in “Predator,” the movie.
The lawsuit states that Cuomo allegedly followed-up by saying “If I were investigated for sexual harassment, I would have to say I told her she looked like a monster.”
She alleges in the lawsuit that former Chief of Staff Jill DesRosiers; former Secretary Melissa DeRosa; and Special Counsel Judith Mogul all “aided and abetted” the sexual harassment.
When Bennett reported Cuomo’s alleged sexual harassment to DesRosiers, the lawsuit alleges that she was transferred to an “inferior position” on the Executive Chamber’s health policy team.
The lawsuit also alleges that Cuomo “embarked on a campaign to publicly cast doubt” on the allegations brought by Bennett and other women after they cooperated with the probe by state Attorney General Letitia James.
Bennett, according to the lawsuit, experiences “near debilitating anxiety,” symptoms of depression, and began suffering from a “chronic neurological disorder” over what she says was a “direct result” of Cuomo’s alleged harassment.
Bennett said in a statement that her career as a public servant was impacted due to Cuomo’s alleged sexual harassment.
“My career as a public servant was abruptly cut short because of Governor Cuomo’s and his top aides’ sexual harassment and retaliation against me after I complained about Governor Cuomo’s misconduct. They must all be held accountable for their actions,” Bennett said.
