By Aaron Miller-
New York governor Andrew Cuomo made several references to the size of his hands, as part of an indication of the size of other parts of his body, it has been revealed.
Legal representatives for one of his sexual harassment accusers spent hours with investigators working for the state attorney general.
Cuomo, who also faces an allegation that he groped a female staff member after summoning her to the governor’s mansion in Albany late last year has his plate full with allegations against him.
The multiple claims against him have led to a chorus of Democrats demanding Cuomo’s resignation, including both New York’s US senators.
More than 130 state lawmakers have said Cuomo should go, including Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The state assembly has opened an impeachment investigation.
Charlotte Bennett revealed new details about Cuomo’s behavior and what she said was a “sexually hostile work environment”, according to her lawyer. It includes a claim the governor frequently made suggestive remarks about the size of his hands.
“One piece of new information that came to light today was the governor’s preoccupation with his hand size and what the large size of his hands indicated to Charlotte and other members of his staff,” her lawyer, Debra Katz, said in a statement.
Bennett also provided 120 pages of records to corroborate her accusations, Katz said.
Bennett, 25, is one of a number of women who have accused Cuomo of harassment. Some have said he demeaned them with nicknames or objectifying remarks, subjected them to unwanted kisses and touches or asked about their sex lives. A few, including Bennett, said they believed the governor was gauging their interest in a sexual relationship.
The claims have led to a chorus of Democrats demanding Cuomo’s resignation, including both New York’s US senators.
More than 130 state lawmakers have said Cuomo should go, including Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. The state assembly has opened an impeachment investigation.
“The majority of the legislature has called for his impeachment or resignation,” said Baruch College political science professor Doug Muzzio. “How can you work with a legislature that is composed of his antagonists? It doesn’t work.”
Assembly speaker Carl Heastie said he would try.
“I’m going to proceed as if it’s a normal negotiation,” he said.
The state attorney general, Letitia James, last week named a former federal prosecutor, Joon Kim, and employment discrimination attorney Anne Clark to lead the Cuomo investigation. They have full subpoena power and will document their findings in a public report.
“Sometimes, God comes and he knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another, or life comes and knocks you on your rear end for one reason or another,” Cuomo said. “The question is what you do when you get knocked on your rear end. And New Yorkers get up, and they get up stronger, and they learn the lesson.”