Andrew Cuomo lacks the requisite shame to allow a series of sexual harassment allegations to tank his career. But the New York governor’s de facto denial of the allegations was damning all the same.
In a Wednesday press conference, the Democrat seemed keen to have his cake and eat it too. He tried to defend his penchant for kissing people with the ultimate Cuomo get-out-of-jail-free card (blame being Italian and invoking his father Mario) while asserting he “never touched anyone inappropriately.”
The “I’m an Italian” deflection was clearly intended to address the photograph corroborating Anna Ruch’s allegation that Cuomo tried to kiss her against her will at a wedding. And sure, if we’re willing to ignore Ruch’s clearly terrified face as Cuomo manhandles it like she’s filet mignon right off the grill, then that’s sort of a justification for that allegation.
But Lindsey Boylan accused Cuomo not just of lecherous and inappropriate remarks, but also of forcing an unwanted kiss on her while they were at work. By any reasonable standard, that is unacceptable conduct from any superior and especially one as powerful as a governor. Either the kiss (which constitutes textbook unlawful sexual harassment) happened, or it didn’t. That Cuomo never really addressed that is a problem.
Boylan claims that Cuomo intentionally blocked her from leaving his office and kissed her on the lips. If that claim is not true, he should specifically say so. And considering that this claim is no boozy he-said-she-said over a drunken hookup that crossed a line, Cuomo must go further and state that Boylan is lying, making the whole thing up.
Cuomo did not say any of this, and that bodes poorly for him.
As always, the burden of proof is on the accusers. But three women have independently presented claims that establish a consistent pattern of behavior. Two of them have corroborating evidence. As it is, the allegation that he verbally sexually harassed his staff clearly surpasses the preponderance of evidence standard. He cannot hide from harassment charges by shrugging off his inappropriate comments as mere jokes, and he cannot hide from the photo of him and Ruch by claiming Italian-ness.
Cuomo should really be facing a much higher-stakes legal battle over his obstruction of the Justice Department’s investigation into his order to fill nursing homes with coronavirus infections. But that doesn’t make his alleged sexual harassment any less bad. If Cuomo thinks his behavior is defensible, he should address the charges specifically. Otherwise, he’s simply creating justifications for his lewd behavior.
