Amid widespread outcry,Andrew Cuomoapologized Wednesday for what he insisted was inadvertent misconduct after three woman came forward accusing him of sexual harassment — but he said he has no intention of stepping down as governor of New York.
“But this is what I want you to know, and I want you to know this from me directly: I never touched anyone inappropriately,” he said, adding, “I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable … And I certainly never, ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain.”
“I was so confused and shocked and embarrassed,” Ruch told the paper, also providing a photo of the latter alleged moment (while theTimespublished the photo thatshows Cuomo’s hands on Ruch’s face, it’s not clear what their exchange consisted of).
“I turned my head away and didn’t have words in that moment,” Ruch said.
Upon being asked about Ruch’s account, Cuomo said Wednesday, “You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people — men, women. It is my usual and customary way of greeting.”
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Andrew Cuomo.Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images
Ruch joined two former aides to the governor who haveaccused Cuomo of harassmentin recent months: first Lindsey Boylan and then Charlotte Bennett.
Boylan was an economic development adviser and stopped working for Cuomo in 2018 after three and a half years. She spoke out in December andsubsequently detailed her allegationsin a lengthy blog post last week, including a claim that Cuomo kissed her after a meeting.
“There is a part of me that will never forgive myself for being a victim for so long, for trying to ignore behavior that I knew was wrong. The Governor exploited my weaknesses, my desire to do good work and to be respected,” she wrote in alengthy post published on Medium. “I was made to believe this was the world I needed to survive in.”
Bennett also noted an occurrence where she said Cuomo complained to her about being lonely amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, telling her that he “can’t even hug anyone.”
Bennett said that Cuomo then looked at her and asked, “Who did I last hug?”
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Cuomo has vehemently denied both of the latter women’s stories, with a spokeswoman calling Boylan’s claims of mistreatment, including the alleged unwanted kiss, “simply false.”
The governor saidSunday in a statement, however, that he believed some of his past actions “have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”
“Tothe extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry,” Cuomo said in that statement, an apology he echoed on Wednesday. “To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to. That’s why I have asked for an outside, independent review that looks at these allegations.”
While several state lawmakers have called on him to step down from his role as governor, Cuomosaid at Wednesday’s press conferencethat he has no intention of doing so.
“I’m not going to resign,” he insisted. “I work for the people of the state of New York. They elected me, and I’m going to serve the people of the state of New York.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go torainn.org.
source: people.com
