The new leaked audio shows the extent to which Governor Andrew Cuomo has threatened his critics.
A New York Times podcast on Friday revealed the audio of a 2018 telephone conversation, where Cuomo threatened to compare a progressive leader to a “child rapist” because he was not happy with the group’s lukewarm political endorsement.
The recording contributes to the growing revelations against the New York executive who is facing an attack of sexual harassment and charges of bullying.
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The New York Times reported the text of the telephone conversation between Cuomo and Bill Lipton, the head of the Working Families Party, in February. At the time, Cuomo’s office said the exchange was not true.
But on Friday, The Times’ “Daily” podcast published the audio of that call that confirmed in fact Cuomo threatened to label his critic as a better alternative to a pedophile because of a mere political dispute.
The Working Families Party (WFP) had supported “Sex and the City” actress Cynthia Nixon over Cuomo during the 2018 democratic primaries. After Nixon lost, the WFP decided to support Cuomo in the November general election as a better alternative to the Republican. Marc Molinaro.
“If you say, ‘Well, he’s better than a Republican’ again, I’ll say, ‘You’re better than a child rapist.’ What about this? “Cuomo is heard telling Lipton on the call, according to the New York Times audio.
US-HEALTH-VIRUS-CUOMO New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks to people at a vaccination site on March 8, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Seth Wenig / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SETH WENIG / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Lipton tells Cuomo that they have differences and that both sides can point them out. “Governor, I apologize, but I have to clarify something. You are free to say what you want, governor, but I just want to make it clear. Our line will be that we have differences with you, but our differences with Republicans are much greater “says Lipton.
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Annoyed by the mediocre support, Cuomo repeated his threat: “I think you are better than a child rapist.”
Reached on Saturday by Fox News, a spokesman for the governor said Cuomo did not remember the conversation with Lipton.
“This three-year conversation took place after a very controversial political campaign in which things were accused from all sides,” said Rich Azzopardi in a statement to Fox News. “He doesn’t remember it happening, but from the way it was described, he was clearly being hyperbolic to illustrate the offensive nature of the PMA’s own name calling.”
The new audio adds material to the growing list of people who speak out saying they have had to endure intimidation and threats from the governor for a period of years. The accusations of bullying add up to at least eight women accusing Cuomo of sexual harassment and misconduct.
On Friday, a current Cuomo advisor, Alyssa McGrath, was the last woman to perform. She described several cases of alleged inappropriate behavior in an interview with the New York Times. She said Cuomo commented on her appearance and lusted after her body at work.
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The charges come because Cuomo was already involved in a coronavirus scandal, in which his office is accused of covering up the true number of deaths in nursing homes after his controversial policy of requiring wards to receive COVID-positive patients who have left hospitals.
Cuomo refused to resign, despite growing resignations from prominent Democrats.
Thomas Barrabi of Fox News contributed to this report.