Andrew Cuomo sexual harassment allegations

File:Andrew Cuomo 2019.jpg

Cuomo in 2019

In December 2020, Lindsey Boylan, a former aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, credibly accused him of sexual harassment and creating a toxic environment. At the beginning of March 2021, Boylan further stated that Cuomo had forcibly kissed her in 2018. Cuomo has denied these allegations. In an interview, Lindsey Boylan stated Andrew Cuomo propositioned her for sex, stating the following, "The governor's trying to sleep with me."

In late February 2021, Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy advisor to Cuomo, accused Cuomo of sexual harassment, which included questions about her sex life. In early March 2021, a third person, Anna Ruch, a member of the Obama administration, who later served on Joe Biden's presidential campaign said that Cuomo put his hands on her back, was rebutted when she removed them, and then placed his hands on her face cheeks and asked to kiss her. A friend photographed Cuomo touching her face. In a March 5, 2021 video interview with CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell, Bennett said that during a one-on-one meeting in the governor's office on June 5, 2020, Cuomo implied "that I was old enough for him and he was lonely."

In a statement on February 28, Cuomo said: "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended...At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business."

Despite being a vocal opponent of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he faced sexual assault allegations, Kamala Harris, the first female Vice President, has yet to state whether she believes Governor Cuomo’s accusers. With that being said, however, the Biden Administration supports an independent investigation to look into the allegations made by several women.

Speakerof the House, Nancy Pelosi said in a statement to Fox News: "The women who have come forward with serious and credible charges against Gov. Cuomo deserve to be heard and to be treated with dignity."

Independent investigation

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that she will oversee an independent investigation into the accusations against Cuomo. In a statement James said, “We will hire a law firm, deputize them as attorneys of our office, and oversee a rigorous and independent investigation.”

Calls for resignation

Two United States Representatives, Elise Stefanik and Kathleen Rice have called for the governor's resignation, as well as a New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, State Assembly members Yuh-Line Niou and Ron Kim, and the New York Working Families Party. Cuomo has since avoided the public because of this outcry.