ALBANY, NY (AP) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked the state attorney general and the chief judge of the appeals court to appoint an independent attorney to investigate allegations that he has sexually harassed at least two women who worked for him.
It was unclear whether the proposal would appeal to legislative leaders and other leading Democrats who had attacked Cuomo’s initial plan to appoint a retired federal judge to review his conduct in the workplace.
“The Governor’s Office wants a review of the allegations of sexual harassment made against the governor to be carried out blamelessly,” said Beth Garvey, the governor’s special adviser. “We selected former federal judge Barbara Jones, with an excellent track record in qualifications and integrity, but we want to avoid even the perceived lack of independence or policy inference.”
Garvey said that the administration of the Democratic governor asked Attorney General Letitia James and Janet DiFiore, chief judge of the Court of Appeals, to jointly select “an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a full review of the matter. and issue a public report. ”
Garvey said the report would be controlled exclusively by the reviewing attorney.
The government’s proposal came almost simultaneously with a statement by James asking Cuomo to issue an executive order placing it in sole control of the investigation. She said such a referral would be empowered to issue subpoenas, enforceable in court.
“There must be a truly independent investigation to fully review these disturbing allegations against the governor, and I am ready to oversee that investigation and make the necessary appointments,” said James. “I ask the governor to make this referral immediately.”
James and DiFiore’s plan, which Cuomo was appointed to his post, to choose a joint investigator, met with a cascade of criticism from fellow Democrats who demanded that he give up all control of the investigation to James.
Under state law, the state attorney general needs referral from the governor to investigate his conduct.
A spokesman for James considered Cuomo’s idea of simply giving her a role in selecting the investigator as unacceptable because that inquisitor would not be able to quote witnesses and documents and would have to rely on voluntary cooperation.
State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senate Majority Leader and Democrat in the Westchester County Suburb, said through her spokeswoman, “We support the AG and its referral request.”
The crisis that now surrounds Cuomo’s office quickly developed after a second woman on Saturday released a story about being harassed by the governor in the workplace.
Charlotte Bennett, a low-level adviser in the governor’s administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo was asking him inappropriate questions. about her sex life, including whether she has had sex with older men.
Her accusation came days after another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, former deputy secretary for economic development and special governor to the governor, elaborated on the allegations of harassment she first made in December. Boylan said Cuomo subjected her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments.
Cuomo, 63, said in a statement on Saturday that he intended to mentor Bennett, 25. He denied Boylan’s accusations.
A group of more than a dozen female Democrats in the state assembly said in a statement: “The governor’s proposal to nominate someone who is not elected independently has no subpoena authority and no prosecutor’s authority is inadequate.”
Senator Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, said on Twitter: “As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I think it is totally inappropriate for Chief Judge DiFiore – who was appointed by the governor and would have a constitutional role in potential future cases – – be part of the investigation process. “
Senator Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Island, tweeted: “The New York attorney general should not need a referral to start a criminal investigation. This is a subject that I have been working on for some time and I will be presenting legislation tomorrow. “
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Matthews reported from New York City.