Local prosecutors look into alleged sexual harassment by New York's Cuomo

[August 05, 2021]  By Jonathan Allen

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday faced a growing number of inquiries by local prosecutors and calls for his resignation a day after an investigation overseen by the state's attorney general concluded he had sexually harassed 11 women.

The investigation, detailed in a 168-page report, found that Cuomo groped, kissed or made suggestive comments to women, including current and former government workers, and retaliated against at least one woman who accused him of sexual misconduct. Cuomo denied wrongdoing.

Attorney General Letitia James on Tuesday released the findings of the five-month independent civil inquiry that concluded Cuomo had engaged in conduct that violated U.S. and state laws. James did not pursue criminal charges, but local prosecutors could do so.

Multiple New York jurisdictions announced they would look into Cuomo's conduct.
 

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance contacted James' office "to begin requesting investigative materials in their possession pertaining to incidents that occurred in Manhattan," spokesman Danny Frost said in a statement on Wednesday.

Acting Nassau County District Attorney Joyce Smith said her office was reviewing the "deeply disturbing" findings released by James, had requested any records on "any incidents" that occurred in the jurisdiction and "will thoroughly and expeditiously investigate any potential crimes."

Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said her office similarly had requested from James "investigative materials" relating to a complaint made by a woman identified in the report as a state trooper who told investigators that some of Cuomo's alleged conduct occurred in the county.

The district attorney in Albany County, where the state capital is located, announced on Tuesday that his office had opened an investigation to see if any of the governor's conduct rose to the level of a crime and requested evidence from the independent inquiry.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called for Cuomo to face criminal charges.

"If you assault a woman, if you do something against her will sexually, that's criminal," de Blasio told the CBS program "This Morning."

Prominent fellow Democrats including President Joe Biden and the state's two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, have called on Cuomo to resign as governor of the fourth most-populous U.S. state, a post he has held since 2011.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a ground breaking ceremony at the Bay Park Water Reclamation Facility in East Rockaway, New York, U.S., April 22, 2021. Spencer Platt/Pool via REUTERS

Asked if there had been contact between the White House and Cuomo or his staff, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters "not that I'm aware of."

"The president believes Governor Cuomo should do the right thing - resign, leave space for future leadership in New York," Psaki added.

Cuomo also is facing possible removal from office through impeachment proceedings in the state legislature.

A Marist Poll  released on Wednesday showed that 59% of New Yorkers wanted Cuomo to resign, compared to 32% who said he should serve out his term and 9% who were unsure. Among New York Democrats, 52% said he should resign, 41% said he should not and 8% were unsure, while 77% of Republicans said he should quit, 16% said he should stay and 7% were unsure.

Cuomo, 63, was elected to three terms as governor, as was his late father, Mario Cuomo, and previously served as U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development secretary from 1997 to 2001 under former President Bill Clinton. His current term runs through December 2022.

Cuomo had for months denied mounting allegations of sexual harassment, and renewed those denials after the investigative report was issued on Tuesday. Hours later, Biden told reporters at the White House: "I think he should resign."

Investigators concluded that Cuomo and his aides created a "toxic" and "hostile" workplace in an office gripped by bullying, fear and intimidation.

Shortly after James, a fellow Democrat, announced the findings, Cuomo, the divorced father of three adult daughters, issued a video statement in which he said: "I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances."

"That is just not who I am," Cuomo said in the video, as he argued that what women described as sexual advances were inoffensive gestures and comments inspired by a natural physical warmth arising from the culture in which he was raised. In the video, he indicated he had no plans to resign.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Howard Goller)

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