LoHud: Ex-NYC cop seeking Hudson Valley House seat was accused of falsely charging teen girl

LoHud: "16-year-old Rebecca Cuevas…'was then brought to the floor where she was cuffed, only to then be dragged back to her feet by her hair' by Esposito"

"Weiner, Esposito's campaign manager, didn't answer directly when shown the video and asked if Esposito and her group had a warrant to go inside."

Today, LoHud revealed new details on prior reporting that exposed Alison Esposito, Republican nominee for Congress in NY-18, for being sued twice over alleged wrongful arrests that ultimately resulted in settlements costing New York taxpayers $120,000 - forcing taxpayers to foot the bill to clean up Esposito's mess during her time at the NYPD.

According to LoHud, a video shows that Esposito appeared to enter the home of the minor involved in one of the settlements without authorization. An attorney alleged "serious missteps by Esposito" were made during the arrest, including dragging the child by her hair.

This isn't the first time reports of Esposito's reckless NYPD career have put the candidate under scrutiny.

A recent report in Politico revealed that Esposito lost her gun, police identification, and shield while serving in the NYPD - which were stolen from an unlocked car. Esposito did not report the incident until up to two days later and was reprimanded by the NYPD for her actions, including getting 20 vacation days docked "for failing to safeguard the firearm."

DCCC Spokesperson Ellie Dougherty:
"Alison Esposito's misconduct during her NYPD career continues to pop up in the press because voters are increasingly concerned with her questionable record. Hudson Valley families deserve better than Esposito's recklessness."

LoHud: Ex-NYC cop seeking Hudson Valley House seat was accused of falsely charging teen girl
August 26, 2024 | Chris McKenna

KEY POINTS:

• Alison Esposito was a New York City police lieutenant in 2016 when she and fellow officers from a Manhattan gang unit went to an East Harlem apartment one night to arrest a suspect in several shootings.

• They made that arrest. But they also cuffed a 16-year-old girl and charged her with punching and scratching Esposito. Those charges were dropped several months later, and the city wound up paying $25,000 to settle a lawsuit by the girl, who alleged that Esposito had made up the assault claim against her.

• …In emails recounting the case to the USA Today Network, the Brooklyn attorney who represented the girl alleged serious missteps by Esposito, starting with her illegally barging into the apartment without a warrant or the residents' consent.

• "Although the police did not have either an arrest or search warrant and were expressly told that they could not enter without such a warrant, Esposito pushed into the apartment," attorney Andrew Miller said. "There was no exigency that justified Esposito's action, she simply got frustrated with the delay and decided to act in violation of the law."

• Once inside, he said, Esposito immediately grabbed 16-year-old Rebecca Cuevas, who was recording the encounter on her phone, and knocked the phone from her hand. Cuevas "was then brought to the floor where she was cuffed, only to then be dragged back to her feet by her hair" by Esposito, Miller said.

• The phone video Cuevas allegedly shot that night appears to corroborate her attorney's account of an unauthorized entry.

• Shared with the USA Today Network for viewing but not for publication, since Cuevas was a minor at the time, the 29-second video shows an apartment hallway and partially opened door as several voices repeatedly tell police they cannot enter. "Without a warrant you're not allowed to come into the house," a male voice says twice, shortly before an officer who appears to be Esposito pushes her way inside and toward the camera.

• Then comes a clamor of voices and chaotic camera movements before the video cuts out a few seconds later.

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