The woman, Anna Ruch, told the Times that Cuomo approached her during a crowded wedding reception in New York in 2019. Ruch told the newspaper that he thanked Cuomo for his toast to the couple and, in response, says he put his hand on her naked lower back, which the Times said was exposed in an open dress on the back.
When Ruch withdrew his hand, Cuomo allegedly said that she looked “aggressive” when he put his hands on her face, she reminded the Times. Cuomo then asked if he could kiss her, said Ruch, and she distanced herself when he approached.
“I was very confused, shocked and ashamed,” Ruch told the Times. “I turned my head and had no words at that moment.”
The newspaper also reported that Ruch said he was later informed by a friend that Cuomo kissed her cheek when she walked away.
The newspaper reported that his account of the episode was loud enough and could be heard by a friend who was nearby, who corroborated the exchange, along with photos of the event and text messages of the time. The New York Times did not identify the friend in his report.
The Times published a single photo of the two together at the event, in which Cuomo appears to be putting his hands on Ruch’s face, but it is unclear what happened at that time.
CNN did not verify Ruch’s allegations against the New York governor.
Ruch did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Ruch is the first woman to make a charge against Cuomo, who did not work for him. The other two women – Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett – who accused the governor of sexual harassment were both advisers to the Cuomo administration.
A spokesman for Cuomo did not directly address Ruch’s accusation to the Times, but pointed to a statement Cuomo released on Sunday night in response to the reaction to Boylan and Bennett’s allegations of sexual harassment.
In the statement, Cuomo said: “To be clear, I have never touched anyone inappropriately and I have never made proposals to anyone and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are claims to which New Yorkers deserve answers.”
Cuomo also acknowledged that some of his previous comments “may have been insensitive or very personal” and said he was “really sorry” for those who may have “misinterpreted (the comments) as unwanted flirtation”.
She told the Times that she interpreted the exchange – which she said occurred in June, while the state was battling the pandemic – as what the newspaper called “clear openings for a sexual relationship”.
Cuomo denied his accusations, saying that he believed he was acting as a mentor and “never made any progress towards Mrs. Bennett, nor did I intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.”
CNN’s calls to Bennett for comment were not answered.
“Telling my truth is not seeking revenge. I was proud to work for the Cuomo administration. For a long time, I admired the governor. But his abusive behavior needs to stop,” she wrote.
“I am speaking because I have the privilege to do so, while many others do not.”
Cuomo firmly denied the accusations at a news conference in December, when Boylan first made them. CNN was unable to corroborate the allegations and, when asked about new comments, Boylan replied that he was letting his Medium post speak for itself.
James rejected Cuomo’s proposal that she and the New York Chief Judge jointly select an independent lawyer to conduct “a complete and independent review” of the claims against him. Instead, James demanded – and Cuomo ultimately agreed – that she alone conduct the investigation, choosing an outside law firm that would receive subpoena power.
She said the “findings will be released in a public report”.