Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment in August 2021, now finds himself entangled in a web of legal battles and controversy. A recent bombshell revelation from a former top aide, Howard Glaser, has added another layer of complexity to Cuomo’s legal troubles. Glaser claims that Cuomo threatened to smear Glaser’s wife, Karen Hinton, if she discussed the sexual harassment allegations against him. This allegation comes as Cuomo faces a federal lawsuit from a female state trooper who accuses him of groping her. Let’s delve into the details of these developments.

The Threat Allegation

According to court documents filed in Brooklyn federal court, Howard Glaser recounted a phone call with Cuomo in June during which the former governor allegedly threatened to tarnish the reputation of Karen Hinton if she discussed her sexual harassment claims against him. Glaser stated that Cuomo warned that “if she goes there [referring to sexual harassment claims against defendant Cuomo], there’s stuff on her that will come out. They have material on Karen that’s not good for her, the kind of thing she wouldn’t want her children to see.”

Hinton’s lawyer, Carrie Cohen, detailed these allegations in the court filing, expressing concern over Cuomo’s efforts to use the legal process to intimidate and harass women who have accused him of sexual harassment.

Cuomo’s Defense and Counterclaim

Cuomo’s defense team subpoenaed Karen Hinton for extensive documents related to the ongoing federal lawsuit brought against him by the state trooper who alleges he groped her. In response to the explosive claims made by Glaser and Hinton’s lawyer, Cuomo’s spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, countered that it was Hinton who had threatened to reveal damaging information about the former governor during the court proceedings.

Azzopardi asserted that there were several conversations with Glaser, who sought to have the subpoena against his wife dropped. He claimed that Karen Hinton had attempted to capitalize on the situation by writing a book filled with what Cuomo’s camp described as lies about the former governor and publicly interacting with individuals relevant to the lawsuit.

In her book, “Penis Politics,” Hinton made salacious claims about Cuomo’s behavior and alleged that he talked inappropriately about his relationships, including the Kennedys, and that he had acted inappropriately towards her more than two decades ago.

The Ongoing Legal Battles

Andrew Cuomo’s legal battles extend beyond the allegations made by the state trooper. The revelation of the alleged threats to Karen Hinton adds another layer of complexity to his legal woes. The former governor, once considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, faces a legal landscape filled with allegations of harassment, misconduct, and retaliatory actions.