By Aaron Miller-
Newyork governor, Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women and then retaliated against a former employee who complained publicly about his conduct, according to a bombshell report released Tuesday by state Attorney General Letitia James.
The months long probe concluded that Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women, and in doing so violated federal and state law.
Announcing the results of the inquiry, New York Attorney General Letitia James said Mr Cuomo had violated state and federal laws.
James said at a press conference that there were no specific penalties tied to the report. Announcing the results of the inquiry, New York Attorney General Letitia James said Mr Cuomo had violated state and federal laws.
The 165-page report, which comprises interviews with 179 witnesses and a review of tens of thousands of documents, also said that Cuomo’s office was riddled with fear and intimidation, and was a hostile work environment for many staffers.
The damning report concludes that Cuomo harassed members of his own staff, members of the public, and other state employees, one of whom was a state trooper. He also engaged in nonconsensual touching, groping, kissing and hugging, on top of inappropriate comments toward numerous women, according to the report.
The findings reveal “a deeply disturbing, yet clear, picture,” James said, describing Cuomo’s office as “a toxic workplace.”
The announcement is a blow to Cuomo’s defense and claim of innocence, two weeks after Cuomo was interviewed by investigators retained by James’ office for the probe. Cuomo was reportedly questioned for 11 hours.Mariann Wang, a lawyer for two alleged victims, Alyssa McGrath and Virginia Limmiatis, said in a statement, “Cuomo’s misogyny and abuse cannot be denied.”
“He has been doing this for years, without any repercussions. He should not be in charge of our government and should not be in any position of power over anyone else,” Wang’s statement said.
The probe into numerous women’s allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo began in March, when the state’s executive chamber authorized an investigation following a request from James to investigate.
Cuomo was accused of making references to the size of his hands, as an indication of other parts of his body, according to some of his accusers.
Later that same month, dozens of Democratic state lawmakers — including New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, with whom Cuomo has long had a fraught relationship — urged the governor to resign.
New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, also a Democrat, in mid-March authorized a panel to launch an impeachment investigation into the harassment claims and other allegations of wrongdoing by Cuomo, including whether his staff tried to hide or alter data on coronavirus deaths in New York nursing homes.
Denial
Cuomo has always denied the allegations and rejected calls for his resignation, though unreservedly apologized for making some women feel uncomfortable. Calls for his resignation are likely to grow louder in the wake of this very damning report, the weight against which no defense can outmatch.
“I never harassed anyone, I never assaulted anyone, I never abused anyone,” Cuomo said in March. “I’m not going to resign.”
His strong opposition to the idea of resignation was evident in a relatively successful re-election campaign on the Newyork governor’s behalf to raise over $2 million on the backs of the executives, including big donations from real estate executive Stephen Ross and Laurance Rockefeller Jr, a member of the ultrawealthy Rockefeller family.
The Newyork Attorney also lambasted efforts to undermine the integrity of the investigation before the outcome was made, as she expressed the offense she took to the efforts to undercut and discredit the investigation.
“I believe women. And I believe all of these 11 women,” James said.
“During his testimony, Chris Cuomo explained that there was discussion about remedial measures the [Executive] Chamber should take in light of the sexual harassment allegations, but some people had taken the position that ‘they should just wait,’” the report says.
The report also says, “According to internal documents and communications obtained during the investigation, it appears that the Governor’s advisors, including Mr. Pollock and Chris Cuomo, counseled him to express contrition after the press published Ms. Bennett’s allegations.”