New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday that “there’s no way” he would “resign” after two more women came forward to accuse the embattled Democrat of sexual harassment.
“That’s democracy. There is no way I resign,” he said during a teleconference. The governor added that he awaits “due process” to make a determination about his alleged offenses.
“People are free to make allegations, but then you also have a process — due process — where people get the facts, and they make a determination,” Cuomo said. “I was the Attorney General of New York for four years. I got all sorts of allegations against politicians.”
Cuomo’s comments follow Saturday accusations from an additional two aides, Karen Hinton, a former press staffer, and policy adviser Ana Liss. Hinton said the governor summoned her to his hotel room and grabbed her during a work event in 2000 when the governor was working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
BACK-TO-BACK ADD MORE ACCUSATIONS OF INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT AGAINST NEW YORK GOV. ANDREW CUOMO
Liss alleged Cuomo asked her if she had a boyfriend, kissed her hand, and called her “sweetheart” between 2013 and 2015. The reports also mentioned the governor allegedly berating male aides by calling them “p——” and telling them they “have no balls.”
The weekend accusations bring the total number of female accusers to five as the governor continues to defend himself.
Lindsey Boylan, 36, a former aide to Cuomo, accused him of trying to kiss her and ask if she wanted to play strip poker during a 2017 flight. Charlotte Bennett, 25, who served as an executive assistant and health policy adviser in Cuomo’s administration, alleged Cuomo asked her sexually explicit questions during the summer of 2020 in his Albany headquarters.
Both Boylan’s and Bennett’s accusations preceded those of former journalist Anna Ruch, 33, who said the governor acted inappropriately toward her. A photo emerged of the Democrat holding her face at a wedding in 2019, which she said was a moment before he asked to kiss her.
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins, a Democrat, called Cuomo to resign shortly after his comments.
“Everyday there is another account that is drawing away from the business of government,” she said in a statement. “We have allegations about sexual harassment, a toxic work environment and a loss of credibility surrounding the Covid-19 nursing home data and questions about the construction of a major infrastructure project. New York is still in the midst of this pandemic and is still facing the societal, health and economic impacts of it.”
“We need to govern without daily distraction. For the good of the state Governor Cuomo must resign,” she concluded.
Those in Cuomo’s orbit have vehemently denied the accusations from all of the women.
“This did not happen,” Peter Ajemian, the governor’s communications director, said. “Karen Hinton is a known antagonist of the governor’s who is attempting to take advantage of this moment to score cheap points with made-up allegations from 21 years ago. All women have the right to come forward and tell their story — however, it’s also the responsibility of the press to consider self-motivation. This is reckless.”
Last week, the governor apologized to the accusers but refused to admit inappropriately touching them.
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“I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly on this. First, I fully support a woman’s right to come forward,” he said. “And I think it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional. And I truly apologize for how I feel awful about it. And frankly, I am embarrassed by it. And it’s not easy to say, but that’s the truth. But this is what I want you to know, and I want you to know this from me directly.”
“I never touched anyone inappropriately. I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable,” Cuomo continued.
The governor faces a probe from Attorney General Letitia James after his office referred the investigation to her.
“Today, the executive chamber transmitted a referral letter to our office, providing us the authority to move forward with an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment claims made against Governor Cuomo,” James said in a statement. “This is not a responsibility we take lightly as allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously. As the letter states, at the close of the review, the findings will be disclosed in a public report.”
