Another woman came forward accusing Gov. Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate behavior.
Sherry Vill, a 55-year old married mother of three, appeared with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, at a Monday afternoon Zoom press conference, claiming the Democratic governor forcibly kissed her several years ago and has photo evidence. Cuomo’s lawyer, Rita Glavin, told the Washington Examiner the governor “sought to comfort New Yorkers” during “times of crisis.”
CUOMO ACCUSER’S ATTORNEY CONDEMNS NEW YORK ASSEMBLY’S CHOICE OF OUTSIDE COUNSEL
Vill, who has been married for more than 30 years and has a granddaughter, claims that in May 2017, the Democratic governor came to her house in Greece, New York, to assess flooding damage in the neighborhood.
Vill said Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her on both cheeks, making her feel uncomfortable. She said Cuomo kissed her again later, also on the cheek. The kisses occurred in front of her family, some of whom urged her not to come forward with her story, Vill added.
According to Vill, Cuomo said: “That’s what Italians do, kiss both cheeks.”
But Vill said, “I knew I felt embarrassed and weird about the kissing,” adding, “I am Italian, and in my family, family members kiss. Strangers do not kiss.”
During the press conference, Allred referred to the incident as “assault” and said her client is willing to cooperate with the New York attorney general’s investigation into Cuomo’s behavior. In addition to that inquiry, the New York Assembly is conducting an “impeachment investigation” under the direction of Speaker Carl Heastie, but Allred said her client was more focused on helping the attorney general’s office.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Vill’s lawyer held up a blurry photo saying it depicted the kiss. Allred also showed a photo of a letter from Cuomo to Vill thanking her days after the visit.
“As I have said before, the Governor has greeted both men and women with hugs, a kiss on the cheek, forehead or hand for the past forty years. Nothing described at today’s press conference was unique in that regard,” Glavin said.
She also said the letter the governor sent was “a nearly identical follow-up letter to more than 30 people.”
In addition, Glavin provided photos from the governor’s trip to Greece, one of which was of him and Vill in her home. Allred showed the same photo during her press conference.
In an album of photos from the governor’s trip posted to Flickr, to which the Washington Examiner was directed by Glavin, one photo showed Cuomo kissing another woman with his hands on her face in a similar manner to the way Vill described her interaction.
“I felt like I was being manhandled.” @NYGovCuomo’s latest accuser, represented by @GloriaAllred, is a Rochester area woman whose home Cuomo visited to see flood damage in 2017. Sherry Vill says he grabbed her face, kissed both cheeks “in an aggressive manner.” #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/msEjCFHLp1
— Sonia Rincón (@SoniaRincon) March 29, 2021
Several women have accused Cuomo of inappropriate behavior. Despite the mounting accusers, Cuomo has repeatedly insisted that he will not resign. He has apologized for making people uncomfortable, but he denied any inappropriate touching.
In addition to Vill, the other accusers are Charlotte Bennett, Lindsay Boylan, Anna Ruch, Karen Hinton, Ana Liss, an unnamed sixth woman, Jessica Bakeman, Valerie Bauman, and Alyssa McGrath. Boylan was the first woman to speak out.
