Cuomo, Under Fire With Few Friends Left, Refuses To Step Down

NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo Monday afternoon addressed an explosive new report from Attorney General Letitia James that says he sexually harassed multiple women in violation of federal and state law.

Speaking to the public via a recorded message, Cuomo said: "I want you to know, directly from me: I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances...That is not who I am or who I have ever been."

Cuomo, a Democrat, has been under scrutiny during an investigation by James that spanned almost five months. Two outside attorneys spoke to 179 people who said that employees, including current and former members of the executive chamber, state troopers and additional state employees, reported a “hostile work environment” that was “rife with fear and intimidation.”

Independent investigators, led by Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark released the report, stating that Cuomo harassed multiple women by engaging in unwanted groping, kissing, and hugging, and making inappropriate comments, a release from the AG said.

More than 74,000 documents, emails, texts, and pictures were also reviewed as evidence during the investigation, the AG said.

As part of the investigation, Cuomo also sat with the interviewers and answered questions under oath. While the governor denied the most serious allegations, the investigators found that he did so by offering “blanket denials” or that he had a “lack of recollection as to specific incidents,” the AG said.

Cuomo and the executive chamber also engaged in “retaliatory” behavior by “intend[ing] to discredit and disparage” a former employee that came forward with her story of harassment, the report said.

“These interviews and pieces of evidence revealed a deeply disturbing yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of federal and state laws," James said on Tuesday.

The report also said Cuomo touched women's "intimate body parts" without consent.

During news briefings Cuomo has repeatedly said that there were two sides to every story and he was waiting for the AG's report to discuss the issues. On Monday, he told a reporter during a coronavirus briefing that it was not the appropriate time to discuss the investigation.

Cuomo said at he has not interfered with the process and has held his tongue. "I can finally now share the truth," he said, adding that his attorney has responded to the complaints; that response can be found on the governor's website.

"The facts are much different than what has been presented," he said.

Cuomo's attorney Rita Glavin of Glavin PLLC wrote that her statement was meant to "set the record straight about the unfair and inaccurate findings" in the AG's report. The investigation, she said, was "utterly biased" and that the governor's testimony was "ignored."

Cuomo said one complaint that bothers him the most is from Charlotte Bennet, a young woman who worked in his office, " a survivor of sexual assault," who, he said, talked about the trauma she'd endured. "I could see how it affected her; I could see her pain."

Cuomo said he engaged, asking questions he wouldn't normally ask — including how she was doing and about her dating relationships — because Bennett's story resonated with him. A member of his own family was the victim of sexual assault in high school, he said. "I would do anything to make it go away for her," he said. "But it never really goes away."

Bennett's attorney and she made "inferences into motives I never had. Simply put, they heard things I just didn't say. Charlotte, I want you to know I am truly and deeply sorry. I brought my personal experiences into the workplace and I shouldn't have done that."

Cuomo also addressed a complaint from an anonymous woman who accused him of groping her in his home office. "Let me clear, that never happened," he said, adding that if she files for damages, "that will be decided in a court of law."

Cuomo also addressed a photo of him touching a woman's face and kissing her on the cheek; he learned those behaviors from his parents and said he does kiss women on the forehead, and embraces, hugs, and kisses the hands of everyone — men, women, young, old, straight and LGBTQ, he said. "On occasion, I do slip and say, 'Sweetheart or darling or honey,'" he said.
Cuomo said he plans to institute new sexual harassment training for all in state government, himself included.

"I accept responsibility — and we are making changes," he said.

As for those who accuse Cuomo of a hostile work environment, he said his office is a "demanding place to work and it is not for everyone."

Cuomo said, of the future: "I will not be distracted."

He said he plans to continue to do what he was elected to do, including managing the "Covid beast."

Multiple women have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment. In March, Cuomo apologized after the third woman accused him of sexual harassment — but said he will not resign.

"This is a sad day for New York because independent investigators have concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and, in doing so, broke the law," James said in a statement. "I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth. No man — no matter how powerful — can be allowed to harass women or violate our human rights laws, period.”

Officials reacted to the news: Rep. Lee Zeldin, running to unseat Cuomo, said: "Andrew Cuomo must resign or be impeached. Cuomo institutionalized widespread abuse within his administration and tried to silence his many victims, which enabled him to continue openly preying on those around him."

"The Attorney General’s findings are clear. The Governor must resign immediately," Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said.

New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio added: "This evidence is particularly damning. No one should suffer the systemic and frankly disgusting sexual harassment that the governor engaged in. . . I am calling once again on Gov. Cuomo to step down."

"I now fully understand that I acted in a way that made people uncomfortable," Cuomo said during his first news briefing after the accusations were made public.

"I never touched anyone inappropriately ... I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable and I certainly never, ever meant to offend or hurt anyone or cause anyone pain. That is the last thing I would ever want to do."

One woman — Anna Ruch, 33 — told The New York Times she met Cuomo at a 2019 wedding and he placed his hand on her lower back. Ruch told The Times she immediately took Cuomo's hand away, prompting the governor to call her "aggressive" and place his hands on her cheeks.

"He said, 'Can I kiss you?'" Ruch said, according to The Times. "I felt so uncomfortable and embarrassed when really he is the one who should have been embarrassed."

The exchange was captured in a photo included a Times story.

Cuomo said there are hundreds of photos of him touching women, men and children in a similar way and that kissing and hugging are his "usual and customary way of greeting."

"It was my father's way of greeting," he has said. "You want people to feel comfortable, to reach out to them."

He said if people were offended and "felt pain from it, then it was wrong and I apologize."

Other sexual harassment claims by former Cuomo aides included accusations by Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett.