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After a second woman accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, the state attorney general rejected the governor’s proposal for a review of his conduct, saying she fell short of the independent investigation provided for by law.
The New York Times reported on Saturday that Charlotte Bennett, 25, was harassed by the governor while working as an executive assistant and health policy advisor. As they were alone in the governor’s office in the state capital, he asked a series of questions about her personal life and relationships that she perceived to be a sexual breakthrough, the Times reported.
“I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me and was terribly uncomfortable and scared,” Bennett told the Times. “And I was wondering how I was going to get out of this and I assumed it was the end of my job.”
The Cuomo administration is also reportedly facing a federal investigation after it was revealed that it retained the true number of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes as a way to escape the Trump administration’s scrutiny. Lawmakers are considering removing the vast emergency powers he obtained at the start of the pandemic, while Cuomo himself is under increasing scrutiny for what the authorities have for years called an aggressive government style.
Bennett spoke out after another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, published a detailed account last week of what she faced while working with the governor for several years. Boylan said sexual harassment and bullying were widespread, and in 2018, the governor kissed her on the lips.
In statements, Cuomo said that Boylan’s account is false. He said he also made no advances to Bennett and that he did not intend to act improperly with her.
The governor’s office said it is committed to an independent review of what happened, but so far, critics are calling the plans toothless and questioning the influence of Cuomo’s political allies.
As a true abuser, @NYGovCuomo continues to work behind the scenes to undermine the truth and harm its many victims. Your abuse of power never ends. He cannot choose his judge and jury. We do. And what is quite clear to me is that the governor must resign.
Cuomo was criticized for the first time for his initial plan to attribute a review of what happened to former federal judge Barbara Jones, with fellow Democrats in the state saying an independent investigator – someone not handpicked by Cuomo – must take charge.
Then, on Sunday, the governor’s office announced that it had asked the New York attorney general and the chief judge of the appeals court to select together an “independent, qualified private practice attorney without political affiliation” to conduct a review and write a public report.
“All members of the governor’s cabinet will cooperate fully. We will have no further comment until the report is published,” said a statement from Beth Garvey, special advisor and senior advisor to the governor.
But state attorney general Letícia James said the charges call for an independent investigation. Under state law, the governor must formally refer such an investigation to the attorney general’s office.
Sunday afternoon, that hadn’t happened, a spokesman for James told BuzzFeed News. Without this, any review of Cuomo’s behavior will not have a subpoena power – therefore, testimony and witness documents will be limited to what is voluntarily provided.
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to questions from BuzzFeed News about the lack of reference.
Although I have deep respect for Chief Judge DiFiore, I am the duly elected attorney general and it is my responsibility to fulfill this task. The governor must provide this reference so that an independent investigation with subpoena power can be conducted.
As described in state law, investigations sent to the attorney general also do not involve a judge in the appointment of an investigator. Cuomo’s request for the attorney general to work with the chief judge of the Court of Appeals, Janet DiFiore, to select an investigator, raised doubts after being announced. DiFiore made no comment, according to a court spokesman.
DiFiore was appointed to his role by Cuomo in 2015, and earlier this year, his daughter easily got a position as a judge after Cuomo moved his main opponent, the New York Law Journal reported.
James said she did not accept the proposal.
“Although I have deep respect for Chief Judge DiFiore, I am the duly elected attorney general and I have a responsibility to carry out this task,” she said.