Cuomo Continues to Deny All Allegations, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand Call for His Resignation

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Gov. Andrew Cuomo denied his many charges of harassment, but incongruously, also apologized, shortly after Attorney General Tish James announced that she had a mountain of evidence that the governor had violated state and federal laws by engaging inappropriately with many on his staff.

     Although a five-month-long investigation that included interviews with 179 witnesses and the examination of tens of thousands of pieces of evidence proved that the governor had harassed at least 11 staff members, Gov. Cuomo excused his behavior by saying that he had only deeply empathized with one of his accusers who had a problem that was similar to one experienced by one of his family members.

     “Why would I even engage with [my staff member] is the obvious and fair question,” Gov. Cuomo said. “Her story resonated deeply with me. I would do anything to make it go away for her."

     Few who heard the governor’s speech seem moved by his version of events, as many are already repeating the many calls for his resignation that were initiated when his allegations began earlier this year.

     For instance, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kristin Gillibrand immediately re-issued their joint statement that castigated Gov. Cuomo.

     “No elected official is above the law,” the two New York senators wrote. “The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office.

    “We continue to believe that the governor should resign.”

     After explaining how he had asked [at least one staff member] personal questions only out of his deep concern, Gov. Cuomo briefly said, “I was wrong,” before immediately going back to blaming others for misinterpreting his actions and comments.

     “They [victims and investigators] read into comments I made and drew inferences that I never meant,” the governor insisted. “They described motives I never had. They heard things that I didn’t say.”

     After his multiple denials of things that he said, "just didn't happen," Gov. Cuomo then contradicted himself by addressing one of his many accusers directly by saying, “I want you to know that I am truly and deeply sorry."

     Gov. Cuomo then claimed that his gestures, which many employees had described as inappropriate and as having made them feel uncomfortable, "were meant to convey warmth and nothing more" and that he "learned those gestures from my mother."

     The governor ironically ended his speech with a call for New York to design an improved program to enhance one that is already in place, to train all state workers, “himself included,” in the reduction of harassment in the workplace, and that nothing would distract him from his work of helping New Yorkers.

Photo by: Mike Groll/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo