Cuomo Accused Of Harassing 13 Women
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) was accused of harassing at least 13 women, according to a recent report. The longtime former governor was forced to resign in 2021 amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.
The office of the New York Attorney General found that Cuomo harassed at least 13 women. According to the findings, Cuomo retaliated against women who denied his advances. The New York findings were supported by a similar federal probe.
The report states that Cuomo subjected employees to the treatment, including some who worked directly for him.
He allegedly made a number of unwelcome personal comments, treated employees differently based on their looks and had unwanted physical contact with some of the women.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division wrote that Cuomo’s behavior “was especially egregious because of the stark power differential involved and the victims’ lack of avenues to report and redress harassment.”
Despite the report, Cuomo and his attorneys continue to deny any wrongdoing.
Cuomo defenders: He didn't harass 11 women.
DOJ: Okay, okay, it was 13. https://t.co/tEMhVsBW9v pic.twitter.com/iVDS9g4a1P
— Bill Hammond (@NYHammond) January 26, 2024
The findings came after more than two years of investigation into the governor. However, Cuomo will not face criminal charges as part of the findings.
This was not the first time that the former governor skirted controversy. He established a high-ranking commission to investigate corruption in the state. However, he was accused of influencing and later shutting down the panel, allegedly over concerns about those in his administration.
Cuomo was also criticized for ordering COVID patients into nursing homes, which caused thousands of deaths of elderly residents.
Later in 2020, a former aide of the governor alleged that Cuomo had harassed her for years and created a toxic work environment. In one accusation, Cuomo was accused of forcing the woman to play strip poker with him during a flight and kissing her without her consent.
After the first accusation, multiple women revealed similar stories, including probing personal questions for the governor. Cuomo, who once harbored presidential ambitions, resigned his office, giving way to current New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D).