Under pressure while accused of sexual harassment, the powerful governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, made two concessions on Sunday, February 28. The Democratic politician agreed to an independent investigation into the allegations, and he apologized.
“At work, I think I play, that I make jokes that I think are funny. Sometimes I tease people in what I think is a good kid, in public as well as in private., the 63-year-old governor said in a statement on Sunday (February 28).
“I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some comments, given my position, may have had unintended effects on some. I realize that some of the things I said have been misinterpreted, such as unsolicited flirtation. If some have had this impression, I am very sorry. “
“To be clear, I have never touched anyone inappropriately, or made advances to anyone, and I never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable.”, he added.
A culture of harassment and bullying
These are the first apologies offered by the Democratic governor – in power for ten years and one of the most powerful governors in the United States – since the harassment accusations detailed Wednesday by one of his former advisers, in a blog.
Councilor Lindsey Boylan, 36, claimed the governor had kissed her unsolicited on the mouth, suggested she play with him at the “Strip-poker” and “Increased efforts to [lui] touch the back, arms, legs ”, while she worked for her administration from 2015 to 2018. “The governor has created a culture within his administration where harassment and intimidation are so prevalent that it is not only tolerated, but expected”, she wrote.
On Saturday, another ex-collaborator, Charlotte Bennett, 25, told the New York Times that he had made advances to her that had put her ” uncomfortable “ in spring 2020. The governor was then, via daily press briefings followed throughout the country, a star in the fight against the covid pandemic.
His apology comes as some New York parliamentarians, including within his Democratic majority, have called for the resignation of Mr. Cuomo, whose third term is due to end at the end of 2022. Democratic senator Alessandra Biaggi, the even described as “Monster”, in a tweet on Saturday.
. @ NYGovCuomo, you are a monster, and it is time for you to go. Now.
Rising congressional Democratic star New Yorker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tried the governor’s charges “Extremely serious and difficult to read”. Even White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki argued for “An independent review of the allegations”. She recalled that President Joe Biden – reputed to be a friend of Mr. Cuomo – “Thinks that every woman should be listened to, should be treated with respect and dignity”.
Contested investigation
The governor had indicated, on Saturday evening, to see asked a former federal judge to conduct “A full review” on these allegations, while refuting them. But his proposal has been criticized. Local elected officials and several personalities, including Mr.me Ocasio-Cortez or Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono, said the investigation should not be conducted by a former judge considered insufficiently independent to have long worked with a close friend of Mr. Cuomo, but by the Democratic prosecutor of the ‘State, Letitia James.
The prosecutor – who many believe she will run for governor at the next deadline – also intervened, asking Mr. Cuomo to give her the case. ” at once “. Even White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki argued for “An independent review of the allegations”.
On Sunday evening, the governor’s legal adviser indicated that Mr. Cuomo finally asked Mr.me James to designate herself “A private lawyer” to conduct the investigations, with whom the governor would cooperate “Voluntarily” and “Fully”. “We are going to recruit a law firm” and “Oversee a rigorous and independent investigation”, reacted Mme James.
This episode considerably weakened the governor, already in the hot seat for having minimized, deliberately according to some, the number of deaths from the coronavirus in the retirement homes of this state of 20 million inhabitants. In the process, accusations of brutality and intimidation by the governor against other elected officials or collaborators had surfaced.
