New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday that he will not step down in the midst of growth asks him to resign on sexual harassment charges. After a third woman came forward to plead misconduct, the governor said during a news conference that he was “embarrassed” by the “pain I caused” and pledged to cooperate with an investigation conducted by the state attorney general.
“I never knew at the time that I was making someone feel uncomfortable,” Cuomo told reporters after giving updates on the state’s response to coronavirus pandemic. “I never, ever had the intention of offending or hurting anyone or causing pain to anyone. I feel terrible that these people felt uncomfortable, they felt hurt, they felt pain with the interactions and I am ashamed of it, and I feel bad about it. this. “
Charlotte Bennett, a former health policy adviser in Cuomo, said the governor asked questions about her sex life, including whether she had ever had sex with older men. His lawyer, Debra Katz, said in a statement on Wednesday that Bennett denounced Cuomo to his chief of staff and chief lawyer.
“We are confident that they alerted you to your complaint and hope that the Attorney General’s investigation will show that Cuomo government officials have not acted on the grounds of Ms. Bennett’s serious allegations or have ensured that corrective measures are taken,” said Katz.
Lindsey Boylan, a former undersecretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, accused Cuomo of kissing her unwanted and making inappropriate comments. Anna Ruch accused the governor of touching her lower back and face and asking if he could kiss her at a wedding reception in 2019.
“I never touched anyone inappropriately,” said Cuomo on Wednesday. Asked by Marcia Kramer of CBS in New York about a photo showing Cuomo putting his hands on Ruch’s cheeks, the governor said he understood Ruch’s feelings, but that’s how he greets people.
“You can find hundreds of pictures of me doing the same gesture with hundreds of people, women, men, children, etc.,” said Cuomo. “You can find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people, men, women. It is my usual and customary way of greeting … In fact, it was my father’s way of greeting people ”, referring to the ex-governor Mario Cuomo.
The governor said he would learn from the women who would come. “I understand that sensitivities have changed and behavior has changed, and I understand,” said Cuomo.
Although Cuomo denies having sexually harassed anyone, some members of his own party are asking him to step down. On Monday night, Congresswoman Kathleen Rice became one of the most prominent Democrats in New York to demand Cuomo’s resignation.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said on Monday that the findings of the investigation the allegations would be made public after their conclusion.
The allegations coincide with scrutiny of how Cuomo handled COVID-19 in nursing homes. He is facing a separate investigation into deaths in nursing homes during the pandemic.
Jericka Duncan, Caitlin Yilek and Alex Sundby contributed to this report.