BY JACK PHILLIPS | The Epoch Times
New York Gov. Andrew
Cuomo sexually harassed several women and retaliated against a former
employee, said New York Attorney General Letitia
James, accusing the Democrat governor of violating laws.
“Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women
and in doing so violated federal and state law,” James said in a news
conference on Tuesday, adding that Cuomo fostered a “hostile” and “unsafe” work
environment. The governor engaged in “unwanted groping, kissing, and hugging,”
as well as making inappropriate remarks, she said.
James’ office concurrently released a 165-page report (pdf) following an investigation, which
started in March when several women publicly accused the governor of
misconduct. The report, which doesn’t have any criminal consequences, included
interviews of 179 witnesses and a review of thousands of documents.
Cuomo, a Democrat, harassed his own staff members,
members of the public, and even a state trooper, the report claimed.
The attorney general’s report punctuates the governor’s
stunning fall-from-grace after he was largely lauded by the national
media—including awards and a book deal—for how he dealt with the COVID-19
epidemic. Cuomo is also accused of misconduct in how his office handled nursing
homes amid the pandemic, which may have led to thousands of excess deaths from
the virus.
When women began making accusations against the governor,
a number of New York Democrat officials urged him to resign. Cuomo has denied
the allegations and has refused to step down. Even President Joe Biden said the
governor should step down if the allegations against him are confirmed in James’
investigation.
The governor, also according to James’ report, denied the
most serious allegations and made blanket statements or had a lack of
recollection into certain details when asked.
New
York Attorney General Letitia James addresses a news conference at her office,
in New York on Friday, May 21, 2021. (Richard Drew, File/AP Photo)
“I never harassed anyone, I never assaulted anyone, I
never abused anyone,” Cuomo said in March. “I’m not going to resign.” He
apologized for making some women feel uncomfortable, however.
Cuomo at the time said that he “never, ever meant to
offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone pain” and feels “terrible that
these people felt uncomfortable, felt hurt, felt pain from the interactions,
and I’m embarrassed by it, and I feel bad from it.”
Former U.S. Attorney Joon Kim and Anne Clark were
selected by James to head the investigation. Cuomo, in statements to the press, accused the two officials of
being biased against him.
But investigators found that Cuomo’s recollections
during interviews “stood in stark contrast to the strength, specificity, and
corroboration of the complainants’ recollections, as well as the reports of
many other individuals who offered observations and experiences of the
governor’s conduct,” the report stated.
“This is a sad day for New York because independent
investigators have concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple
women and, in doing so, broke the law,” James, also a Democrat, added in a
statement. “I am grateful to all the women who came forward to tell their
stories in painstaking detail, enabling investigators to get to the truth. No
man—no matter how powerful—can be allowed to harass women or violate our human
rights laws, period.”
The Epoch Times has contacted the governor’s office for
comment.
