Photographs from an election night event show Andrew Cuomo in a close, intimate moment with his attorney, reigniting questions about his past misconduct allegations and the taxpayer-funded defense she provided.

Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo appeared at an election night gathering where photos captured him kissing his attorney Rita Glavin on the cheek while cupping her face, a scene that immediately circulated across social media. The image landed badly because it echoes the behavior his accusers described during his 2021 scandal and resignation. That visual stirred fresh criticism about judgment and accountability from a man who once held the highest office in the state.

Glavin told reporters she was congratulating Cuomo on his recent, unsuccessful bid to become New York City’s mayor. Her explanation did little to tamp down the backlash, since many saw the gesture as the same conduct alleged by multiple women in separate legal filings. Those lawsuits accused Cuomo of unwanted touching, groping, kissing, and lewd comments over several years, painting a consistent pattern rather than isolated lapses.

State investigators produced a report in 2021 that detailed a pattern of inappropriate behavior, and the Justice Department later found Cuomo had harassed 13 women between 2013 and 2021. Those findings also described retaliation by his office against at least four women who complained. The visual of him touching his lawyer’s face on camera revived those specific, serious allegations in the public mind.

Rita Glavin served as Cuomo’s primary defense attorney and was paid $5.68 million from taxpayer funds to represent him. She became a polarizing figure by directly challenging accusers and publicly disputing the conclusions of investigators, often framing the report as politically motivated. Her rhetoric included calling the report “deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and misleading.”

Glavin also claimed the attorney general “purposely omits key evidence” and criticized the investigatory process as unfair. Her aggressive public defense extended to searching for records and seeking documents tied to one of the accusers, Charlotte Bennett. Those moves made headlines and stoked anger among those who felt Cuomo’s inner circle tried to intimidate or discredit women who came forward.

Beyond the courtroom sparring, the money spent on legal fees raised eyebrows among fiscal conservatives and voters alike. Spending more than $5 million in legal bills to defend a public official strikes many as an ugly example of taxpayer funds being used to shield political figures. Critics point out that regardless of the legal arguments, the optics are terrible and the public deserves clearer accountability on how these decisions are made.

During the mayoral campaign debates, opponent Zohran Mamdani pressed Cuomo on both the allegations and the cost of his defense, noting Cuomo “spent more than $20 million in taxpayer funds to defend yourself, all while describing these allegations as entirely political” and “even gone so far as to legally go after these women.” That line of attack proved effective with voters who were concerned about both ethical conduct and government spending.

Cuomo has continued to assert his innocence, but the election-night photograph suggests he still behaves comfortably in ways that many find inappropriate. After a resignation in 2021 tied to misconduct findings, many expected a more guarded public posture; instead, this moment made it look like lessons were not learned. For critics, the image reinforced a narrative of arrogance and entitlement.

Glavin remains involved in ongoing legal matters for Cuomo, including a defamation action she filed that relates to allegations raised by Bennett and others. Her involvement ensures this story will not disappear quickly, as legal motions and public statements keep the dispute in the headlines. Observers are watching to see how the courts, the media, and voters respond over the coming weeks and months.

Editor’s Note: After more than 40 days of screwing Americans, a few Dems have finally caved. The Schumer Shutdown was never about principle-just inflicting pain for political points.

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