<div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">In one sexual harassment lawsuit, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s legal defense has gone so far as to include subpoenas for records from the accuser’s gynecologist, college and family therapist.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">In another, Mr. Cuomo’s lawyers sought almost four years of phone records from a woman with few if any ties to the accuser, a state trooper. And when the accuser’s lawyers subpoenaed Mr. Cuomo’s phone, he relayed that it was at the bottom of Nantucket Sound after it “accidentally fell from his shirt pocket, hit the boat and fell into the ocean.”</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">It should come as little surprise that Mr. Cuomo, a pugnacious Democrat whose bullying tactics won battles but few friends in New York, would embrace aggressive legal tactics as he seeks to defend himself against the sexual harassment suits and protect his political image as he contemplates a comeback.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The surprise lies in who is footing Mr. Cuomo’s legal bills in these matters: New York taxpayers.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">The state has spent about $25.4 million as of last month representing the legal interests of Mr. Cuomo and several of his top aides as they fend off civil complaints, criminal investigations and inquiries from the State Legislature.</p></div>

<div class="css-53u6y8"><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Of the $25.4 million, more than half has gone to defend Mr. Cuomo and several top aides in four lawsuits filed by three women in state and federal court. The rest went to pay for legal representation in earlier state and federal investigations into workplace misconduct and the manipulation of data related to pandemic deaths in nursing homes. These figures come from Thomas P. DiNapoli, the New York State comptroller, whose office tracks and approves the fees.</p><p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Because Mr. Cuomo’s alleged actions in these lawsuits took place while he was governor, state law requires taxpayers to foot legal bills related to the accusations.</p><div class="css-1336jj"><div class="css-121kum4"><div class="css-asuuk5"><noscript><div class="css-7axq9l" data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript"><svg width="24" height="24" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" class="css-1b5b8u1"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M2.5 12a9.5 9.5 0 1 1 19 0 9.5 9.5 0 0 1-19 0Zm8.5 1.75v-7.5h2v7.5h-2Zm0 2v2h2v-2h-2Z" clip-rule="evenodd"></path></svg><div data-testid="optimistic-truncator-noscript-message" class="css-6yo1no"><p class="css-3kpklk">We are having trouble retrieving the article content.</p><p class="css-3kpklk">Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.</p></div></div></noscript><div class="css-1dv1kvn" tabindex="-1"><hr><p>Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and&nbsp;<a href="https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F09%2F12%2Fnyregion%2Fandrew-cuomo-legal-fees-ny-taxpayers.html&amp;asset=opttrunc">log into</a>&nbsp;your Times account, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F09%2F12%2Fnyregion%2Fandrew-cuomo-legal-fees-ny-taxpayers.html">subscribe</a>&nbsp;for all of The Times.</p><hr></div><div class="css-1g71tqy"><div data-testid="optimistic-truncator-message" class="css-6yo1no"><p class="css-3kpklk">Thank you for your patience while we verify access.</p><p class="css-3kpklk">Already a subscriber?&nbsp;<a data-testid="log-in-link" class="css-z5ryv4" href="https://myaccount.nytimes.com/auth/login?response_type=cookie&amp;client_id=vi&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F09%2F12%2Fnyregion%2Fandrew-cuomo-legal-fees-ny-taxpayers.html&amp;asset=opttrunc">Log in</a>.</p><p class="css-3kpklk">Want all of The Times?&nbsp;<a data-testid="subscribe-link" class="css-z5ryv4" href="https://www.nytimes.com/subscription?campaignId=89WYR&amp;redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2024%2F09%2F12%2Fnyregion%2Fandrew-cuomo-legal-fees-ny-taxpayers.html">Subscribe</a>.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and his aides have mounted a forceful defense, paid for by state taxpayers, against accusations of sexual harassment and other misconduct.{ai:summary}<p>Former Governor Andrew Cuomo's legal defense in sexual harassment lawsuits includes aggressive tactics, such as subpoenas for personal records of accusers and claims about lost evidence. Notably, New York taxpayers have covered approximately $25.4 million in legal expenses for him and aides.</p><p>This funding, mandated by state law due to his actions while in office, supports ongoing defense against civil complaints and investigations relating to workplace misconduct and pandemic data management. #politics</p>