New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was found guilty of sexually harassing current and former staff, contributing to a “hostile work environment” for women, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Tuesday.
The executive summary of the attorney general’s independent report concludes “that the Governor engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment under federal and New York State law.” Adding that the “executive chamber’s culture” contributed to the conditions “that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist.”
The report also revealed a senior staff member who stated, “I’m disgusted that Andrew Cuomo—a man who understands subtle power dynamics and power plays better than almost anyone in the planet—is giving this loopy excuse of not knowing he made women feel uncomfortable.”
“Either he knew exactly what he was doing (likely) or he is so narcissistic that he thought all women wanted these kinds of questions (crazy excuse even to write it),” she continued.
During the five-month long investigation, 179 witnesses were interviewed by the attorney general along with leading prosecutors Joon Kim and Anne Clark. The witnesses included both current and former members of the executive chamber, and state troopers, among other state employees.
11 complainants have come forward with allegations that Cuomo sexually harassed them, nine of which reported that the governor inappropriately touched them. In one instance, Cuomo allegedly told one of his executive assistants “If you were single, the things I would do to you,” before going so far as to ask her if she would ever be willing to cheat on her husband.
New York Executive Law § Section 63(8) allows the state attorney general to “inquire into matters concerning the public peace, public safety and public justice,” which in turn broadens the scope of “investigative powers” and whether the matter establishes a “reasonable relation” between the subpoena and “the proper discharge of the executive function” by the governor.
This story is still developing, with more information to come soon regarding what will happen next as calls for Cuomo to resign increase.
