Disgraced former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will not face criminal charges over allegations he assaulted at least four women, the special prosecutor appointed by Schneiderman’s Democratic successor announced Thursday.
The decision follows “an exhaustive review, evaluation of the facts, the law, and applicable statutes of limitations,” Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said in a statement. “I personally interviewed each of the women who cooperated with our investigation along with their attorneys.”
“I believe the women who shared their experiences with our investigation team, however legal impediments, including statutes of limitations, preclude criminal prosecution,” she added.
Schneiderman resigned nearly six months ago after the New Yorker published a report alleging he beat and choked at least four women. Two women spoke on the record with reporter Ronan Farrow, claiming they were romantically involved at the time with the former attorney general. In May, the allegations against Schneiderman were taken seriously enough as to prompt New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to call for his resignation.
Schneiderman complied, and Democratic state Solicitor General Barbara Underwood was appointed in his place as the acting attorney general. At the direction of Cuomo, Underwood tapped Singas as the special prosecutor charged with investigating the allegations against Schneiderman.
On Thursday, Singas said her team “interviewed members of Schneiderman’s security detail, employees who worked with him at the New York Attorney General’s office and witnesses,” and they could find nothing that would merit criminal charges. She also said her investigation found nothing that she’d characterize as “misconduct” by Schneiderman’s staff.
A spokeswoman for Schneiderman released a statement Thursday saying he had taken “full responsibility” for his “conduct.”
“I recognize that District Attorney Singas’ decision not to prosecute does not mean I have done nothing wrong. I accept full responsibility for my conduct in my relationships with my accusers, and for the impact it had on them,” the statement read.
It added: “After spending time in a rehab facility, I am committed to a lifelong path of recovery and making amends to those I have harmed. I apologize for any and all pain that I have caused, and I apologize to the people of the State of New York for disappointing them after they put their trust in me.”
Underwood announced this week that she plans to return to her previous role as state solicitor general.
Since May, Gov. Cuomo has had little to say about the Schneiderman scandal. In fact, the most recent action he has taken in response to a New Yorker report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct was when he quietly suspended an investigation into whether a Manhattan district attorney mismanaged a 2015 allegation of abuse leveled against Harvey Weinstein. He did that six days after his gubernatorial campaign received a $25,000 donation from the law firm that used to represent the disgraced Hollywood mogul.
