Rita Glavin, Lawyers of Distinction Member, Named Cuomo’s Personal Attorney.

According to The New York Post, it has been announced that Lawyers of Distinction Member Rita Glavin has been named as head of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s personal legal team. This announcement comes as Cuomo finds himself amidst numerous sexual harassment allegations, including a comment that he “wanted to mount a female staffer like a dog” which has ultimately caused him to vacate the Governor’s office.

A Storied Career

Prior to being named as Cuomo’s personal attorney, Glavin worked as a prosecutor in the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York before accepting a role within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division under then President George W. Bush. Glavin was tasked by the Obama administration to head the Criminal Division’s transition in 2009.

In 2012, Ms. Glavin became a partner with Seward & Kissel LLP where her focus was in white collar defense and representing high profile clients in sensitive investigations, trials, and internal audits.

Cuomo Sexual Harassment Scandal

Allegations against Andrew Cuomo began to circulate in December 2020 when a former aide alleged that Cuomo had sexually harassed and manipulated her throughout her employment. These allegations were dismissed as false by the Cuomo Administration, however, several other women eventually came forward with similar accusations prompting the New York Attorney General to open an independent investigation into the matter.

The Attorney General’s report found that the governor sexually harassed multiple women and broke federal and state law. Glavin has responded that testimony from several of the accusers was factually false and that several claims made within the report were unable to be corroborated or substantiated by individuals present when the alleged misconduct took place.

While the governor has since vacated his position stating that his legal defense would detract from his ability to govern, Ms. Glavin will continue to use her expertise to provide legal defense to Cuomo as at least one of his accusers has lodged a criminal complaint.