Two former assistants immediately accused Cuomo of harassment: what is known

Two former aides to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo accused him of harassment. The edition told in more detail Fox News.

Shortly after the first sexual harassment charge from Lindsay Boylan, Cuomo was also accused by second assistant Charlotte Bennett.

“Asked questions of an intimate nature”

Charlotte Bennett claims that Cuomo "asked her questions about her sex life, asked about her attitudes towards polygamy, and whether she had ever had sex with older men."

A 25-year-old employee told reporters about an incident that allegedly took place in June 2020 when she was face to face with the 63-year-old governor in his office. According to her, he allegedly asked her if she believed that age mattered in romantic relationships, and added that he was open to relationships with women aged 20 and older. She regarded this as "a clear attempt to get a sexual relationship from her." ...

Although Bennett claims that Cuomo never tried to touch her, the Governor's "words" during this conversation were "impossible to misunderstand."

“I realized that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and I was terribly embarrassed and scared,” Bennett said.

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According to reporters, Bennett reported the incident to Cuomo's chief of staff, Jill DesRosier, less than a week after a strange conversation with the governor, and she also filed a complaint with Cuomo's special adviser Judith Mogul. She was reassigned to another job as a health policy advisor, positioned on the opposite side of the building from the governor's office.

Bennett said she didn’t push for an investigation because she “wanted to move on” and that she was happy with her new job.

"Tried my best to touch"

Lindsay Boylan, who first accused Cuomo of harassment, expressed her support for Bennett.

“I'm with you, Charlotte. We are with you. Always, Boylan wrote. "I'm so proud of you, Charlotte."

Boylen, former deputy head of the Economic Development Department and special advisor to Cuomo, published a sensational essay. She accused the governor of allegedly “trying his best to touch me, my lower back, arms and legs”, forcibly kissing her on the lips during one-on-one briefing, and suggesting that she “play strip poker” on the plane ...

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Lindsay Boylan, 36, tweeted on Sunday, December 13th that she suffered from increased attention from her boss while working with him.

“Yes, Governor Andrew Cuomo has sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it and just watched, says her post. - I could never predict what awaits me: the fact that they will get attached to me at work (which was very good), or that they will comment on my appearance. Or both in one conversation ... It has been like this for years, "she is quoted as saying Gazeta.ru.

In a series of posts, she also added that she was not ready to communicate with journalists on this topic and that she was “very angry that I ended up in this situation at all”. As Boylan says on social media, other women also suffered from the governor's behavior: “Not knowing what to expect was the most unpleasant thing - apart from the fact that I knew that no one would do anything even if they saw it. No one. And I know I'm not the only one, ”said Lindsay Boylan.

What Cuomo said

Cuomo's office denied Boylan's claims of harassment, calling them "just false" and insisting that there was "no commentary on strip poker."

In a press release published on February 27, Cuomo called Bennett "a hardworking and valuable member of the team," which has "every right to speak out."

“She came to me and told me about her experience of sexual abuse and how it affected her. And also that she is creating an organization that will give her the opportunity to help other survivors. I tried to support and help her, ”Cuomo said. - I tried to be a mentor for her. I never flirted with her and was not going to act in any inappropriate way. The last thing I would like is to make her feel the way she is now describing in her statements. "

Cuomo added that he "will not have any further comments" until a "full and thorough external review" of Bennett's claims has been completed and completed.

At the same time, Cuomo did not deny that he asked her personal questions, but insisted that they had no sexual overtones.

Cuomo's Special Adviser Beth Garvey also released a statement saying, “Bennett's concerns have been handled with sensitivity and respect and in accordance with applicable law and policy. The case was immediately referred to a special lawyer. Bennett received a transfer to a position in which she had a long-standing interest. The facts, which did not include allegations of physical contact or inappropriate sexual behavior, were carefully discussed and explained with her. She was consulted and expressed satisfaction and appreciation for the way this issue was resolved. "

Cuomo also released a statement in which he apologized and admitted that some of the things he said were "misinterpreted as unwanted flirting," writes ABC7NY.

Cuomo said that he "never intended to offend or harm anyone."

“Now I understand that my communication could have been a little too personal and that some of my comments, given my situation, made others feel in a way I never imagined. I admit that some of the things I said have been misinterpreted as unwanted flirting. I'm sorry, ”he said.

Independent investigation

Andrew Cuomo's office has scrapped plans to select an investigator to investigate sexual harassment allegations against him. The office said it would instead ask the state attorney general and the appellate judge to select a lawyer to conduct an independent review. "Voice of America".

The office said it asked the New York State Attorney General and the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals to jointly select an independent, non-political lawyer who would conduct a thorough due diligence and prepare a public report.

“All employees of the governor's office will cooperate fully. We will refrain from further comments until the report is published, ”said Cuomo's Special Advisor Beth Garvey.

Famous women call for investigation

US Congresswoman from New York Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on New York's attorney general to select an investigator to investigate the growing allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo, writes Fox News.

"Lindsay Boylan and Charlotte Bennett's detailed reports of sexual harassment by Governor Cuomo are extremely serious and painful to read," Ocasio-Cortez responded.

“There must be an independent investigation - not under the direction of a person elected by the governor, but under the direction of the attorney general,” she added.

Sex and the City star and former New York mayoral candidate Cynthia Nixon has also called for an investigation into the governor's behavior. Fox News.

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Nixon also sharply criticized Steve Cohen, who supported Cuomo.

“I want to tell Steve Cohen, who has never seen Cuomo harass women. If this is not obvious, then I will clarify: he is not going to do it in front of your eyes, so take it easy, "Nixon wrote.

White House spokesman Jen Psaki called for an independent review of the allegations against Cuomo.

“US President Joe Biden has consistently said that he believes that every woman should be heard, that every woman should be treated with respect and dignity,” said Psaki, noting that this applies to both Charlotte Bennett and Lindsay Boylan, who brought the charges. against Cuomo. “There should be an independent verification of these allegations, which is something Cuomo clearly supports,” added Psaki.

As ForumDaily NewYork previously wrote:

• Cuomo faced serious criticism after it was revealed that the death toll from COVID-19 in nursing homes in New York could be twice as high as officials say, because the administration Cuomo declined to say how many of the residents of these houses died from coronavirus in hospitals... This is the conclusion reached by State Attorney General Laetitia James.
• А The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Federal Attorney's Office in Brooklyn open an investigation into the coronavirus response team in the administration of Governor Andrew Cuomo... Particular attention is paid to the work of his administration with nursing homes at the beginning of the pandemic.
• In the State Assembly, even started talking about his impeachment... State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy accuses Cuomo of ineffectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic from the outset. His policies, according to the Republican, damaged the state's economy and led to the death of people.