A former aide who accuses New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, condemned him on Monday as a manipulative predator, rejecting an apology attempt in which he justified his behavior as “playful”.
NEW YORK (AP) – New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignations intensified on Monday night after a third woman accused him of offensive behavior, saying he touched his face and back and asked to kiss her moments after they met at a wedding reception.
Anna Ruch told The New York Times on Monday that she removed the Democratic governor’s hand from her back, but he said she looked “aggressive”, immediately put her hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her.
“I was so confused, shocked and ashamed,” Ruch, now 33, told the Times, who published a photo of the meeting showing the governor’s hands on his face. “I turned my head and had no words at that moment.”
An email asking for comments was sent to Ruch’s photography business. Their social media accounts were private. An email was also sent to the Cuomo administration for comments.
Ruch’s account, who worked as a photographer at the White House during President Barack Obama’s second term, made her the second woman to accuse Cuomo of touching her without permission, and fueled broader calls for Cuomo to resign, including some in his own party.
“Governor Cuomo’s pattern of sexual harassment and predatory behavior is unacceptable, and I believe women will come forward,” tweeted New York City councilman Antonio Reynoso in comments echoed elsewhere. “Governor Cuomo must resign.”
The latest charge follows allegations of sexual harassment against the governor by two women who worked for his government, reports that prompted the independently elected attorney general from New York to say he was moving forward with an investigation into his conduct.
Attorney General Letitia James received a letter on Monday from Cuomo’s office authorizing her to take control of the investigation after a weekend of disputes over who should investigate.
The letter allows James, also a Democrat, to replace an outside law firm to conduct an investigation with full subpoena power. The findings will be released in a public report, the letter said.
Cuomo said he never touched or made inappropriate proposals to anyone.
Former aide, Charlotte Bennett, rejected Cuomo’s attempted apology, in which he excused his behavior as “playful”, saying on Monday that the governor “refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior. “.
Bennett, who claims that Cuomo questioned her about her sex life and asked if she would be open to a relationship with an older man, tweeted that “abusers – especially those with an enormous amount of power – are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulation tactics to lessen allegations, blame the victims, deny wrongdoing and escape the consequences ”.
After the news of Ruch’s account was released, Bennett tweeted to her: “Your inappropriate and aggressive behavior cannot be justified or normalized. Thank you for your courage and strength. “
Cuomo’s support plummeted amid double crises. The allegations of harassment come on the heels of accusations that he covered up the true number of coronavirus deaths in nursing home residents.
It is quite a fall for Cuomo, who had been widely celebrated for his leadership during the pandemic, especially in daily press conferences in which he sought to inform and reassure the public with tables, graphs and a machismo that he dubbed “tough New York”.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials said that while Cuomo is under investigation, he should cede the emergency powers he has held since the pandemic began almost a year ago. The legislature took no action to revoke Cuomo’s emergency powers – due to expire on April 30 – despite pressure from Republicans and some Democrats.
On Monday, Cuomo hired Manhattan litigant Elkan Abramowitz to represent him and his office in investigations related to nursing homes.
Abramowitz, who previously represented Cuomo’s office in a federal investigation into his 2014 decision to close a state anti-corruption commission, said he is not representing Cuomo on the issue of sexual harassment.
Bennett, 25, presented his allegations in a story published in the Times on Saturday. She said Cuomo said he was alone and looking for a girlfriend.
Cuomo did not respond to Bennett’s statement on Monday.
Former aide Lindsey Boylan said Cuomo made inappropriate comments about her appearance, kissed her without her consent at the end of a meeting and once suggested that they play strip poker on board their state jet. Boylan, who is running for the Manhattan district presidency, first accused Cuomo in a tweet last December and elaborated on the allegations in a Medium post last week.
She tweeted on Monday about Ruch’s experience with the governor, saying, “It doesn’t make me feel validated. It makes me feel bad. “
Cuomo denied Boylan’s accusations. In a statement on Sunday, he acknowledged that he teased people about their personal lives in an attempt to be “playful” and funny. He said he wanted to act as a mentor to Bennett.
“Now I understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or very personal and that some of my comments, due to my position, made others feel in ways I never imagined. I acknowledge that some of the things I said were misinterpreted as unwanted flirtation. To the extent that someone felt that way, I really am sorry for that, ”he said.
Cuomo’s statement drew immediate reaction from critics, who said he was throwing responsibility on women by saying that they misunderstood his statements.
The letter authorizing James’ investigation states that all state officials have been instructed to cooperate fully with the review. Cuomo’s senior adviser Beth Garvey said she would facilitate interviews with witnesses and requests for documents from Cuomo’s office.
Ross Garber, a lawyer who represented former governors Mark Sanford of South Carolina and John Rowland of Connecticut, said Cuomo is “essentially handing his reputation over to a stranger and saying, ‘Do what it takes. Go find what you want and publish a report to the public on everything you concluded I did or didn’t do. ‘”
Bennett’s attorney, Debra Katz, said her client will fully cooperate with the attorney general’s investigation.
“He was not acting as a mentor and his comments were not misinterpreted by Ms. Bennett,” said Katz. “He was abusing his power over her for sex. This is classic sexual harassment. ”
Initially, Cuomo seemed to want to maintain a certain level of control over the investigation. His office said it was asking a former federal judge, Barbara Jones, to conduct the investigation. Then his office suggested that the attorney general and the state’s chief judge work together to appoint an outside lawyer.
Finally, on Sunday, Cuomo agreed with James’ demands that she take control.
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Villeneuve reported from Albany, New York. Associated Press reporter Karen Matthews in New York contributed to this report.
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On Twitter, follow Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Marina Villeneuve at twitter.com/ReporterMarina
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