An attorney for one woman accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment says the New York state Assembly’s choice of outside counsel has an “unacceptable conflict of interest.”
Debra Katz, the attorney for Charlotte Bennett, criticized the Assembly’s selection of Davis Polk & Wardwell to lead the lower chamber’s impeachment investigation into the allegations against the governor.
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“We were alarmed to learn that Speaker Heastie has hired Davis Polk to assist with the investigation, given the connection between Dennis Glazer, who spent more than 30 years as a partner at Davis Polk, and the governor,” Katz said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “This is an unacceptable conflict of interest.”
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Katz said the alleged connection between Dennis Glazer, who spent 31 years as a partner at Davis Polk, and the governor, who has denied claims of inappropriate touching, gave Bennett “pause” and called into question the legitimacy of the entire investigation.
“We already know the extent to which Gov. Cuomo has surrounded himself with people in the Executive Chamber who enabled his behavior and swept evidence of sexual harassment under the rug,” she continued. “If there is even a hint of political influence in the impeachment investigation, it will taint the entire proceedings.”
Katz noted that Glazer has received appointments from Cuomo, including to the board of the State University of New York at Purchase and New York’s casino siting board, and Glazer’s wife, state Court of Appeals Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, would serve in a state Senate trial if Cuomo were impeached.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie praised the law firm when announcing the Assembly’s selection.
“Hiring Davis Polk will give the Committee the experience, independence and resources needed to handle this important investigation in a thorough and expeditious manner,” he said.
Bennett was the second woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment after former staffer Lindsey Boylan. Both reportedly met with investigators from the office of Attorney General Letitia James, who initiated an investigation separate from the Assembly’s proceedings.
In contrast to criticism for Heastie’s choice of counsel, Katz praised James’s appointments of Joon Kim and Anne Clark to lead the state’s investigation as “very impressive hires” who have “a wealth of experience and independence.”
Boylan and Bennett were later joined by Anna Ruch, Karen Hinton, Ana Liss, an unnamed sixth woman, and Jessica Bakeman in coming forward with accusations against the governor.
The allegations have led to calls for Cuomo’s resignation, with Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand joining the majority of the state’s congressional delegation in urging the governor to resign.
Cuomo, who maintained he never engaged in sexual impropriety but apologized for making anyone feel uncomfortable, has vowed not to step down, telling reporters during a conference call on Friday he is “not going to resign” because he “did not do what has been alleged.”
Despite the fallout from within Cuomo’s own party, President Biden, who was notably silent as members of his party turned on the governor, declined to call for Cuomo’s resignation before the investigations’ findings are released when asked for comment Sunday evening. Biden later added that Cuomo should resign if the allegations are confirmed through the dual investigations during an interview with ABC News.
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A representative for Heastie did not immediately reply to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
