New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office is reportedly investigating one of the sexual assault claims levied against the embattled three-time governor.
Amid a flurry of accusations ranging from inappropriate touching to inappropriate remarks about sexual experience, one aide, whose name has not been released publicly, alleged the governor fondled her at the governor’s mansion, according to the Albany Times Union. His office is looking into this accuser’s account, the sixth of seven to come forward to date, though she has not filed a complaint and still works in the office.
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“We have our own inquiries ongoing,” a senior aide to Cuomo told the Albany Times Union. “We have an obligation to investigate any claim of sexual harassment. And we, after reporting (the female aide’s allegations) to the (attorney general), were directed to continue our own inquiry. … So there are multiple inquiries.”
The woman became emotional at work on March 3 after Cuomo denied ever touching a woman “inappropriately,” leading her co-workers to learn of her allegation. At least one colleague who became aware of her allegations came forward to senior aides days later.
New York Attorney General Letitia James appointed former acting U.S Attorney for the Southern District of New York Joon H. Kim and employment discrimination attorney Anne L. Clark to lead the investigation into Cuomo.
“It’s absurd. Why would you be doing that?” the attorney for the woman who has accused Cuomo of groping her said. “It’s not appropriate, and obviously, we’re concerned with the ramifications and the effect on witnesses and the quest for the truth.”
The lawyer also called it a “shadow investigation.”
Beth Garvey, the governor’s acting counsel, issued a statement on Wednesday: “We fully informed the (attorney general’s) office of the required process with this type of allegation and they said to follow it. The matter was referred to GOER (Governor’s Office of Employee Relations) and (we) informed local law enforcement and that is the full extent of the action.”
The governor’s office passed along Garvey’s statement when reached for comment. They did not respond to questions about the accuser’s lawyer’s commentary about intra-office investigation.
In addition to the attorney general’s investigation, members of the New York State Assembly initiated an “impeachment inquiry” into the charges at the direction of Speaker Carl Heastie.
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Despite mounting pressure from Democrats, Cuomo has denied any inappropriate touching and vowed not to resign, telling reporters during a conference call on Friday he is “not going to resign” because he “did not do what has been alleged.”
The attorney general’s office immediately responded to a request for comment.
