Gov Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday revealed that he had a conversation with his three daughters about the sexual harassment claims against hi...
Gov Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday revealed that he had a conversation with his three daughters about the sexual harassment claims against him as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the governor should resign immediately because his position is 'untenable'.
The governor said he discussed the 'spectrum of allegations' with his adult daughters, Mariah, 26, Cara, 26 and 23-year-old Michaela, whom he shares with his ex-wife Kerry Kennedy.
'I told them what I told you-which is I never touched anyone inappropriately,' Cuomo said. 'I never made any inappropriate advances and no one ever told me that they felt at the time that I made them feel uncomfortable or awkward.'
Meanwhile, de Blasio said during a press conference on Wednesday: 'My stance is that I don't see how the governor can continue to do his job. I think it has become untenable,' de Blasio said.
'I think more will come out still,' de Blasio said, adding that he believes people who were fearful of speaking out against the governor will come forward.
'A lot of people felt they could not speak up and now they feel they can speak up and I think you're going to see more,' de Blasio said.
Gov Andrew Cuomo (pictured) on Tuesday revealed that he had a conversation with his three daughters about the sexual harassment claims against him as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the governor should resign immediately because his position is 'untenable'
The governor said he discussed the 'spectrum of allegations' with his adult daughters, Mariah, 26, Cara, 26 and 23-year-old Michaela (all pictured), whom he shares with his ex-wife Kerry Kennedy
The governor's remarks were made on the same day as a sixth woman accused him of misconduct.
The details of the allegations weren't immediately clear, but the Times Union of Albany reported Tuesday that the woman said Cuomo inappropriately touched her late last year at the governor's mansion, where she had been summoned to work.
The newspaper didn't reveal her identity or detail what type of touching was alleged to have taken place. Reporters from the paper did not speak to the woman. The paper cited 'an official close to the matter' as confirming the existence of the complaint.
A supervisor in the governor's office became aware of the new allegation over the weekend, the newspaper reported.
The complaint was then reported to the governor's legal counsel and to the office of state Attorney General Letitia James, who is overseeing an investigation into Cuomo's workplace conduct.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured) said during a press conference on Wednesday: 'My stance is that I don't see how the governor can continue to do his job. I think it has become untenable'
When asked about the story in a news conference, Cuomo said: 'I am not aware of any other claim.'
Speaking generally about sexual harassment allegations made against him, Cuomo told reporters: 'I never touched anyone inappropriately. As I said last week, I never made any inappropriate advances. As I said last week, no one ever told me at the time that I made them feel uncomfortable.'
Cuomo's special counsel, Beth Garvey, also wouldn't confirm the existence of the complaint but said in a statement that 'all allegations that we learn of directly or indirectly are going promptly to the investigators appointed by the attorney general'.
The attorney general's office declined to comment.
Several women who worked in Cuomo's administration have said they were sexually harassed or subjected to demeaning behavior by the governor.
Anna Ruch, 33, (right) claimed Cuomo behaved inappropriately at a Manhattan wedding in September 2019. Lindsey Boylan, 36, (left) claims Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately and kissed her without her consent
Ana Liss, 35, (left) claims he subjected her to sexual misconduct during her time in his administration. Karen Hinton (right) claims the governor summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000 before she managed to escape
Onetime aide, Charlotte Bennett (pictured), said the governor told her he was looking for a girlfriend, and asked her about her sex life and whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man
A former economic development director, Lindsey Boylan, said Cuomo commented on her looks, summoned her to unnecessary meetings, joked that they should play strip poker and once kissed her on the lips at the end of a meeting.
Onetime aide, Charlotte Bennett, said the governor told her he was looking for a girlfriend, and asked her about her sex life and whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man.
Another former aide, Ana Liss, said Cuomo kissed her on the hand and cheek and made flirtatious comments that didn't initially bother her, but which she came later to see as patronizing and improper in a work environment.
Karen Hinton, 62, spoke to the Washington Post on Saturday about about an incident in which Cuomo allegedly summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000.
Hinton said that she tried to pull away from Cuomo but that he allegedly pulled her back and held her before she backed away and escaped the room.
The governor's office quickly denied that the incident in the hotel room ever took place.
Peter Ajemian, Cuomo's director of communications, told the Post that 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.'
Anna Ruch, 33, who did not work for the state, described Cuomo putting his hands on her face and asking if he could kiss her after they met at a wedding.
Cuomo has acknowledged asking people personal questions and teasing them in what he thought of as playful banter, and only later realized was making women uncomfortable.
Over the weekend Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins became the first senior Democrat in New York to say the three-term governor should resign.
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie stopped short of demanding that Cuomo quit, but said in a statement that 'it is time for the Governor to seriously consider whether he can effectively meet the needs of the people of New York'.
In a brief phone conversation Sunday prior to the press conference, Cuomo told Stewart-Cousins he wouldn't quit and they would have to impeach him if they wanted him out of office, according to a person who was briefed by someone on the call.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the call was intended to be private.
Cuomo said the next six months will determine how successfully New York emerges from the coronavirus pandemic.
'I'm not going to be distracted because there is too much to do for the people,' he said, noting that the state must pass a budget within three weeks and administer 15 million more COVID-19 vaccines.
No comments