New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday refused to resign, even when he said he was “sorry for any pain I caused” three women who claim he sexually harassed them.
An emotional Cuomo also asked the public to reserve the trial, as New York attorney general Letitia James oversees an investigation into the women’s allegations, two of whom previously worked as her assistants.
“Now I understand that I acted in a way that made people uncomfortable,” said the combative Democrat in his first public comments on women’s allegations. “It was not intentional.”
“And I really and deeply apologize for that,” he said. “I feel terrible about that.”
“I certainly never intended to offend or hurt anyone or cause pain to anyone,” said Cuomo. “This is the last thing I would like to do.”
Asked directly whether he would resign in the middle of his third term, Cuomo said: “I will not resign”,
“I work for the people of New York,” he added. “I’m going to do the job that the people of the state have chosen me for.”
The lawyer for one of Cuomo’s accusers, former aide Charlotte Bennett, said later that the press conference was “full of falsehoods and inaccurate information”.
And another accuser, former Cuomo advisor Lindsey Boylan, tweeted: “How can New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo lead our state if you “don’t know” when it was inappropriate with your own team? “
In addition to the sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo has been widely criticized in recent weeks for covering up statistics related to Covid’s deaths in nursing homes and for intimidating state and other lawmakers.
The governor said he would “fully cooperate” with the harassment investigation by a lawyer or lawyers James will appoint. These lawyers will have subpoena power to compel witnesses, including Cuomo, to answer their questions.
“I ask the people of New York to wait for the attorney general’s facts before forming an opinion,” said Cuomo.
The 63-year-old governor was first accused last week by Boylan of kissing her without her consent and of jokingly suggesting a game of “strip poker” on board an official flight. Cuomo’s office vehemently denied Boylan’s account at the time it was published on Medium.com.
Within days, Bennett, 25, told The New York Times that Cuomo last year asked her questions, including whether she “had ever been with an older man”, whether she was monogamous in her relationships and other issues that made me feel uncomfortable.
Bennett said it was clear that Cuomo was looking for a sexual relationship with her.
On Monday, The Times published statements by another woman, Anna Ruch, who said that Cuomo, whom she did not know, laid a hand on her bare back at a wedding. The governor then said that she looked “aggressive” while holding her face with her hands, according to Ruch.
Ruch, who previously worked at the White House during the Obama administration, said Cuomo asked if he could kiss her.
A photo of an uncomfortable-looking Ruch with Cuomo holding his face accompanied this article.
Bennett criticized Cuomo on Monday for what she called “predatory behavior” and asked other women to come forward if they had similar complaints about his conduct.
Ruch’s account increased the number of people who asked for Cuomo’s resignation, including Democratic Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York.
On Wednesday, Cuomo spoke to reporters for the first time about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and related developments in New York. Then he revolved around the sexual harassment scandal that has plagued him since last week.
“I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly about this,” he said. “Firstly, I fully support a woman’s right to perform and I think that should be encouraged in every way.”
After apologizing for making women feel uncomfortable, Cuomo said, “I am embarrassed about this, and it is not easy to say, but it is the truth.”
“I want you to know … I never touched anyone inappropriately,” said the governor. “I never knew at the time that I was making someone uncomfortable.”
“And I certainly never intended to offend or hurt anyone or cause pain to anyone.”
“I learned from what has been an extremely difficult situation for me and other people as well, and I learned an important lesson,” said Cuomo.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for any pain I caused anyone. I never intended, and I will be better off with that experience.”
Cuomo, during the reporters’ interrogation, said later: “You can find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people, men, women. It’s my usual and customary way to say hello.”
“By the way, it was my father’s way of greeting people,” he said, referring to the late father, Mario Cuomo, who was also governor.
Bennett’s lawyer, Debra Katz, after the press conference, said: “The governor’s press conference was full of falsehoods and inaccurate information, and New Yorkers deserve better.”
“The governor has repeatedly said that he has never touched anyone inappropriately,” said Katz.
“Mrs. Ruch’s story makes it clear that this is not accurate. The governor repeatedly said that he had no idea that it made anyone uncomfortable. My client, Charlotte Bennett, reported her sexual harassment behavior immediately to the chief of staff and the legal advisor. . “
Katz also said: “We are confident that they informed you of your complaint and we hope that the Attorney General’s investigation will demonstrate that Cuomo government officials have not acted on the basis of Ms. Bennett’s serious allegations or have ensured that corrective measures have been taken, in violation of your legal requirements. “
Cuomo last weekend tried to control who would investigate Boylan and Bennett’s allegations, saying that a former federal judge would do the job.
The governor then asked the state’s highest judge to oversee the investigation with James.
Cuomo’s efforts sparked a political backlash and James explicitly refused the deal. The governor gave in quickly, and his office said James would take care of the investigation herself.