The aide whose wedding reception was the location that led to a sexual harassment charge against Governor Andrew Cuomo is leaving the state’s task force COVID-19, he said on Wednesday.
Gareth Rhodes said in a prepared statement that he is returning to his position as deputy superintendent and special adviser to the state’s Department of Financial Services.
“Last week, when I approached a year since I moved to Albany to join the NYS Covid task force, I decided it was time, given the progress of the vaccination program and the continuing decline in Covid’s numbers, from return to my previous role in the Financial Services Department and I informed the senior staff of the Governor at the time, “said the statement from Rhodes.
CUOMO SPEAKS HOW NY LAWYERS REQUEST RESIGNATION, IMPEACHMENT ABOUT SCANDALS
The move came just days after Anna Ruch, 33, became the third woman to accuse Cuomo, 63, of sexual harassment.
It also happened just before Cuomo gave his first press conference since the scandal broke out last week.
Rhodes has been regularly among Cuomo government officials to join the governor in his meetings.
FLASHBACK: GOV. CUOMO IN 2018 ASSACKED ‘DISRESPECT FOR WOMEN’ BY THE MANAGEMENT OF TRUMP ‘SEXIST AND DISGUSTING’
In a story published on Monday, Ruch told The New York Times that Cuomo approached her, grabbed her face and kissed her on the cheek after officiating the wedding of Rhodes and Alexa Kissinger in 2019, a former White House employee to then President Barack Obama.
A photo of the incident shows Cuomo rising over Ruch while holding her head with both hands and she looked at him with apprehension inside the Toro restaurant in Manhattan. Kissinger expressed support for Ruch, an Obama co-worker, after his revelations.
“This pattern of behavior is completely unacceptable,” tweeted Kissinger.
“I am very proud of @annaruch for sharing his story.”