August 3, 2021 Gov. Andrew Cuomo investigation

New York’s Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women and created a “hostile” work environment for women, a report released Tuesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

The damning findings of her civil review into the harassment allegations have created a political firestorm around Cuomo after what has already been a scandal-plagued couple of months for the governor.

President Biden said Cuomo should resign. New York legislators of both parties vehemently condemned Cuomo’s conduct and are contemplating whether further action should be taken against the governor. Cuomo denies the allegations and has shown no willingness to resign over them.

Here’s what to know from the report and what to expect next:

Read more about the report here.

A former aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who has accused him of sexual harassment spoke out after the governor made a recorded statement on Tuesday denying allegations made by Attorney General Letitia James that he sexually harassed multiple people. 

“If he’s not willing to step down, then we have a responsibility to act and impeach him,” Charlotte Bennett, the second woman to go public with sexual harassment allegations against the governor, said in an interview with Norah O’Donnell on “CBS Evening News” on Tuesday.

Bennett said that Tuesday was validating and that she feels vindicated. “He’s trying to justify himself by making me out to be someone who can’t tell the difference between sexual harassment and mentorship,” Bennett explained.

She denied Cuomo’s claim that he was trying to help her through a difficult time saying, “No. His intention was trying to sleep with me.”

Bennett said that Cuomo plays dumb publicly but “privately, he knows that he sexually harassed staffers and I think it’s easier to explain his behavior publicly by saying there was some misunderstanding.”

She said that the only way Cuomo could accept responsibility is to step down. “I don’t want an apology, it’s not necessary, it’s fake,” she said.

The former aide also called the picture montage Cuomo shared during his recorded statement a “propaganda video,” adding that it was “not only inappropriate but downright weird and unnecessary.”

Bennett accused Cuomo of only protecting himself and his office. “It is not protecting New York. He is not speaking for New Yorkers. He is not trying to do anything other than maintain the power that he has currently,” she told O’Donnell. She said that Cuomo is normalizing victim-blaming and sexual harassment and called his reaction to the district attorney’s announcement “a circus act.”

“I think his comments are dangerous. I think it sends a message to New Yorkers that sexual harassment is not important, that it is not dangerous….it is. It is important and it’s also just plain illegal.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign immediately or face impeachment, saying he believes the governor is guilty of “sexual assault” and could be held criminally responsible for his alleged actions. 

“It’s disgusting,” said de Blasio. ”…My heart goes out to these women… They were put through hell by a powerful man who held their career in his hands and used that power to manipulate, to have his way.”

“This is textbook sexual harassment and unfortunately… in some cases, sexual assault,” he continued. “Disgusting and troubling and unacceptable and he needs to leave office immediately.”

De Blasio went on to dismiss the defense Cuomo laid out for himself in a video presentation earlier today as “laughable.”

“If he won’t resign, he should be impeached as quickly as possible by the state legislator,” the mayor said. “He can’t govern.”

De Blasio went on to suggest he believed the governor should face criminal liability over the allegations.

“It looks that way to me,” he said, when asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer if Cuomo should he face criminal charges. “Any assault on a woman, and the assault on a woman, you should face criminal charges. But if you, on top of that, use your power and position to think you could cover up the assault, well, that sounds criminal to me.” 

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New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie issued an updated statement on Tuesday, saying Gov. Andrew Cuomo has “lost the confidence of the Assembly Democratic majority,” and “can no longer remain in office.”

Heastie said after receiving all relevant documents and evidence from the New York attorney general, they “will move expeditiously and look to conclude our impeachment investigation.”

Since the scandal embroiled the governor last year, Heastie has repeatedly stayed away from calling for Cuomo’s resignation unlike other Democratic leaders. 

Though he is not officially on the Judiciary Committee, which would present articles of impeachment to the State Assembly, his support for impeachment is necessary behind the scenes for the impeachment process to move forward as he is the highest-ranking member in the assembly. 

President Biden has called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

Asked at a press conference today if he will you call on Cuomo to resign given the investigators said the 11 women were credible, Biden said, “Yes.”

Biden said that he stood by his statement in March when he said that Cuomo should resign if the allegations were proven by the investigation.

In response to a follow-up question about Cuomo, Biden said that he had not read the report but stands by what he said in March.

“Look, what I said was if the investigation of the attorney general concluded that the allegations are correct, that back in March I would recommend he resign. That’s what I’m doing today. I have not read the report. I don’t know the detail of it. All I know is the end result.” 

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Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign in a statement today.

Here’s her statement:

“Under Attorney General Letitia James, a comprehensive and independent investigation into the allegations against Governor Cuomo has been completed.
“As always, I commend the women who came forward to speak their truth.
“Recognizing his love of New York and the respect for the office he holds, I call upon the Governor to resign.” 

Some background: Pelosi’s statement is a turnaround from her remarks on the allegations against Cuomo in March. At that time, Pelosi told ABC’s “This Week” in an interview that women should be believed but stopped short of calling for Cuomo’s resignation amid sexual harassment allegations against him.

At least 55 of the 63 members of the New York State Senate, which would vote to remove Gov. Andrew Cuomo if he were to be impeached, have now called for his resignation over sexual harassment allegations.

If the governor was impeached by the New York State Assembly and those state senators also voted to find Cuomo guilty, he would be removed from office. 

The New York State Senate would be the legislative body — joined by the seven judges from the New York Court of Appeals — that would vote on any impeachment articles that could be brought. A two-thirds vote by that group would remove an individual, such as the governor, from office.

State law prevents temporary senate president, Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins, from voting to remove the governor; she reiterated on Tuesday that Cuomo should resign.

Individuals removed from office also be barred from holding public office in the future in addition to “any public office of honor, trust, or profit under this state.”

CNN has reached out for comment to the remaining six state senators from whom it has not found public statements on whether Cuomo should resign.

Two Democratic state senators, Simcha Felder and Joe Addabbo, have told CNN they do not have a statement at this time on whether Cuomo should resign.

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign today in the wake of the attorney general’s report that he sexually harassed multiple women.

“Given the substantiation of the allegations, given the independent investigation by our attorney general, I don’t think there’s anything more to be said,” she told CNN.

“I do believe that for the sake of the state, the governor resigns,” she said. “He should resign.”

Stewart-Cousins also said she supports efforts in the state assembly to move forward impeachment, and that if articles are sent over to the state’s upper chamber, she is prepared to hold a trial and “listen to the presentation of the case and make their judgements from there.”

“That is certainly a way to go,” she said.

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New York State Assembly Democrats are currently in an emergency conference, discussing the attorney general’s report that found several instances of unlawful sexual harassment and retaliation by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to two sources with direct knowledge.

The state legislature is not currently in session but lawmakers can call a special session at any time should they proceed with filing articles of impeachment and impeachment proceedings. 

The Judiciary Committee is currently scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the ongoing impeachment investigation. 

Eric Adams, the Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor, called on the New York state assembly to swiftly move forward with impeachment proceedings today if Gov. Andrew Cuomo does not resign.

“Attorney General James conducted a thorough and revealing investigation that yielded disturbing conclusions about the conduct of Governor Cuomo,” Adams said in a statement. “It is now the duty of the New York State Assembly to take swift and appropriate action and move forward with impeachment proceedings if the Governor will not resign.” 

An impeachment inquiry by the New York state assembly is ongoing. 

On Aug. 9, there is another meeting of the judiciary committee overseeing the inquiry. Part of that will be open to the public but then will go into a closed executive session. 

Next, the committee would draft articles of impeachment should they move forward. 

New York Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul called the details documented in the attorney general’s investigation “repulsive and unlawful behavior” by the governor, in a statement today.

“No one is above the law. Under the New York Constitution, the Assembly will now determine the next steps,” she said. An impeachment inquiry is ongoing by the assembly’s judiciary committee.

Hochul added that because she is next in line to become governor, “it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the process at this moment.”

Read her statement here:

An attorney for two women who have accused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of abusive behavior responded to the New York attorney general’s report, saying Cuomo’s “misogyny and abuse cannot be denied.”

Attorney Mariann Wang said the report “is extraordinarily thorough and detailed, and finds the governor repeatedly engaged in unlawful behavior.”

Wang added, “He has been doing this for years, without any repercussions.”

The attorney represents Alyssa McGrath, who still works for the governor, and Virginia Limmiatis, who says she was subjected to unwanted touching in 2017.

Wang said the report confirms Cuomo engaged in “profoundly humiliating and abusive behavior towards women who worked for and with him, including touching their intimate body parts without consent.”

“And more even than that, Cuomo and those around him punished anyone who dared to come forward and report his behavior,” Wang added.

“He should not be in charge of our government and should not be in any position of power over anyone else,” she said.

Cuomo has denied ever touching anyone inappropriately.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares released a statement Tuesday saying that his office will request investigative materials from New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office regarding the report on New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

“We will be formally requesting investigative materials obtained by the AG’s Office, and we welcome any victim to contact our office with additional information,” Soares said.

Soares also said that his office is conducting an ongoing criminal investigation on the matter and that they will refrain from further public comment at this time.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki called allegations against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo “abhorrent,” and said President Joe Biden will address the investigations’ findings further in his 4 p.m. ET remarks Tuesday.

“I don’t know that anyone could’ve watched this morning and not found the allegations to be abhorrent. I know I did,” Psaki said when asked about the New York attorney general’s investigation. 

Asked whether Biden stands by his comments in March that Gov. Cuomo should resign if the investigation confirmed allegations of harassment, Psaki wouldn’t answer directly, only saying Biden would speak about the issue at 4 p.m. and that she would “not get ahead of his comments.”

Psaki said there have been no conversations Tuesday between the White House and the governor’s office.

Psaki said the message from the White House to the women who came forward with their accounts is that “all women who have lived through sexual… this type of experience, whether it is harassment or abuse or in the worst case, assault, deserve to have their voices heard. Deserve to be treated with respect.”

Some more context: Earlier Tuesday, the New York attorney general’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations found that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday.

The office found that Cuomo harassed current and former state employees, as well as a number of women outside of state government, James said, as the office released a lengthy report on the investigation 

James said Tuesday that her investigation found that Cuomo engaged in “unwelcome and nonconsensual touching,” and made comments of a “suggestive” sexual nature. James said that the conduct created a “hostile work environment for women.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office has provided the State Assembly Judiciary Committee with the report detailing their investigation into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and will provide them “with all relevant evidence.”

“We will cooperate with their investigation as needed,” James said in a statement today.

President Biden did not take questions on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in his first remarks since the state’s attorney general released a report concluding that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women. Biden did say that he would take questions after his Covid-19 vaccine remarks at 4 p.m. ET today. 

“I’m going to be speaking on COVID at 4 o’clock this afternoon and will take questions on COVID and other issues after that,” Biden said when reporters started asking him questions about Cuomo.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement Tuesday saying that Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign or be impeached immediately if he “continues to resist and attack” those that investigated him.

“It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as governor. He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately,” de Blasio said.

Some more context: An impeachment inquiry by the New York state assembly is ongoing. 

There is another meeting of the judiciary committee overseeing the inquiry on Aug. 9. Part of that will be open to the public then will go into a closed executive session. 

The next step will be for the committee to draft articles of impeachment should they move forward. 

In a new statement, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Dem. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York reiterated their call for Gov. Cuomo to resign and commended the women who came forward as part of the New York State Attorney General’s investigation. 

“No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign,” the two senators said in the statement. 

Here’s the full statement:

“As we have said before, the reported actions of the Governor were profoundly disturbing, inappropriate and completely unacceptable. Today’s report from the New York State Attorney General substantiated and corroborated the allegations of the brave women who came forward to share their stories – and we commend the women for doing so.
“The New York State Attorney General has conducted an independent, thorough and professional investigation that found the Governor violated state and federal law, had a pattern of sexually harassing current and former employees, retaliated against at least one of the accusers and created a hostile work environment.
“No elected official is above the law. The people of New York deserve better leadership in the governor’s office. We continue to believe that the Governor should resign.”

Three House Democrats from New York — Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Thomas Suozzi and Gregory Meeks — have now issued a joint statement calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.

“We commend the brave women who came forward and spoke truth to power. The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign,” the three members said in the statement.

The three House members had not yet called for the governor’s resignation.

Jeffries, who also serves as Democratic caucus chair, had previously said on Twitter that the allegations are “very serious and deeply disturbing” but at the time called for the investigation to continue. And Suozzi and Meeks had previously said that if Cuomo cannot continue to govern effectively, he should resign.

Here’s the statement from Reps. Jeffries, Suozzi and Meeks: 

“The office of Attorney General Tish James conducted a complete, thorough and professional investigation of the disturbing allegations against Governor Andrew Cuomo. The investigation has found that the Governor engaged in abusive behavior toward women, including subordinates, created a hostile work environment and violated state and federal law. We commend the brave women who came forward and spoke truth to power. The time has come for Governor Andrew Cuomo to do the right thing for the people of New York State and resign.”

Some more context: Earlier today, Rep. Mondaire Jones, another Democratic representative from New York, called for Cuomo to resign on CNN.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued a direct apology to Charlotte Bennett, one of the complainants. The governor said he attempted to assist after she identified herself as a victim of sexual assault. 

He said he brought his own experience to the workplace after dealing with a family relative who underwent a similar trauma, and “I thought I learned enough and had enough personal experience to help her, but I was wrong.” 

“Charlotte, I want you to know that I am truly and deeply sorry, I brought my personal experience into the work place and I shouldn’t have done that. I was trying to help, obviously I didn’t. I am even more sorry that I further complicated the situation. My goal was the exact opposite. I wish nothing but good for you and for all survivors of sexual assault,” he said.

Earlier today, an attorney for Bennett called on Cuomo and his senior staff “who protected and enabled him” to “resign immediately” following the release of the New York attorney general’s report.

Bennett — a former executive assistant and health policy adviser — said she thought the governor was trying to sleep with her and she was deeply uncomfortable with questions he asked.

During his statement today, Cuomo countered her lawyers’ claims. “I have heard Charlotte and her lawyer and I understand what they are saying, but they read into comments I made and draw inferences that I never meant. They ascribe motives I never had, and simply put, they heard things that I just didn’t say.”

Earlier, he said her allegations “bothered me most.”  

After Cuomo’s statement, Bennett tweeted this:

The president of the Rape, Abuse & Incest Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, called on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following a report from the New York attorney general’s office which found Cuomo to have sexually harassed multiple women.

“We urge Gov. Cuomo to resign immediately. The New York Attorney General’s report describes a disturbing pattern of abuse and harassment that should not be tolerated in any office, especially in the governor’s office. Anything short of resignation is a slap in the face to survivors,” RAINN president Scott Berkowitz said.

President Biden is aware of the results of the investigation into allegations against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, according to a White House official.

The New York attorney general’s report found that Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including current and former government employees.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo responded to the attorney general’s report today, saying “the facts are much different than what has been portrayed.”

He denied the conduct detailed in the report. “I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances,” Cuomo said.

Here’s more of how the governor responded: 

“My attorney who is a nonpolitical former federal prosecutor, has done a response to each allegation, and the facts are much different than what has been portrayed. That document is available on my website. If you are interested, please take the time to read the facts and decide for yourself. First, I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances.”

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is addressing the attorney general’s report.

Earlier today, Attorney General Letitia James announced the conclusion of the state’s investigation that found Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

Attorney for accuser Charlotte Bennett is calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his senior staff “who protected and enabled him” to “resign immediately” following the release of the New York attorney general’s report.

The report found Gov. Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

“The findings released today demonstrate what Charlotte Bennett stated publicly, at great personal cost, more than six months ago: Governor Cuomo sexually harassed her during her employment as his executive assistant and his enablers protected him and covered it up,” attorney Debra Katz said. 

Katz goes on to say “He subjected Charlotte to sexual harassment, individually, and created a sexually hostile and toxic work environment for all women.”

“Sadly, Charlotte was not the only extraordinary woman whose career in the Executive Department was cut short and derailed as a result of the Governor’s illegal behavior. The Governor’s actions have deprived New Yorkers of the professionalism, passion, and dedication to their state that Charlotte and the many others who refused to submit to his advances have to offer.”

Bennett, a former executive assistant and health policy adviser, says she thought the governor was trying to sleep with her and she was deeply uncomfortable with questions he asked.

Bennett was named in the report. 

Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment.  

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said she believes that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign after a report  by the state’s attorney general found Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

Gillibrand called the report today “serious and “damning.”

“His actions are inappropriate for the governor of New York state. He should resign,” she said.

She said she is still reading through the entire report, but that her heart goes out to the women who came forward.

Some context: Gillibrand came out months ago in favor of Cuomo resigning, but doubled down after today’s report.

The New York attorney general report details the allegations of 11 women claiming harassment.

Investigators found all 11 women to be credible, special investigator Anne Clark said, adding that their accounts had been corroborated to varying degrees.

One accuser, Charlotte Bennett, told people and texted with people real-time about her interactions with the governor, according to Clark.

One of the touching incidents alleged by a state trooper on Cuomo’s security detail was witnessed another state trooper, who confirmed it to investigators, Clark said.

“I believe women. And I believe these 11 women,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said.

“This investigation has revealed conduct that corrodes the very fabric and character of our state government. And shines light on injustice that could be present at the highest levels of government. But none of this, none of this would have been illuminated if not for the heroic women who came forward,” James said.

New York Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign following a report from the New York attorney general’s office, which found the governor “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

Jones said he believes Cuomo can no longer serve in office. “Today is a very, very sad day in the history of our state. In order to move forward, we must have new leadership,” he told CNN’s John King.

“I think the governor’s conduct is disqualifying and that’s why so many democratic members of the New York congressional delegation and the state legislature called on him to resign several months ago,” Jones said.

He continued, “My heart goes out to the victims most importantly of Governor Cuomo’s conduct… And this is something that no one should ever have to experience. I’m also thinking of my sisters and friends who work in politics, and all of the people who are at risk of people like Gov. Cuomo’s conduct. And that we have to stop this. We have to set a standard. And I’m hopeful we can resolve this in short order at the legislative level, if nothing else, in terms of removing him from office.”

President Biden said in March that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo should resign if an investigation confirmed allegations of sexual harassment.

Biden and Cuomo are longtime personal friends and political allies, but Biden has kept his distance from Cuomo since taking office. 

Cuomo visited the White House in May as part of a larger group of governors to discuss Covid-19, and he has participated in video calls with the President on the same topic. 

But the White House sought to make clear he was only there in his official capacity: “Gov. Cuomo is governor of one of the largest states in the country, one of the places where the pandemic hit hardest, hit earliest, where many Americans are still struggling to get vaccinated, to make ends meet, so it was important for him to be part of the meeting,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the time. 

The meeting was “not to give anyone a stamp of approval or to get their stamp of approval,” she said. 

Biden has not visited New York since taking office. 

New York State legislative leaders condemned Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s conduct detailed in a report released Tuesday.

The report found Gov. Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says Cuomo can no longer serve as the governor. She previously called on the governor to resign if the investigation showed something inappropriate happened.

“Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor,” the majority leader said in a statement Tuesday. 

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie called the findings in the Attorney General’s report “disturbing” and “gut wrenching,” but did not call for New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.

“The conduct by the Governor outlined in this report would indicate someone who is not fit for office,” Heastie says. 

The assembly Judiciary Committee, which is actively conducting an impeachment investigation, will conduct an “in-depth examination” of the report, Heastie said in a statement released Tuesday.  

Read the statement From Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: 

“This report highlights​ unacceptable behavior by Governor Cuomo and his administration. As I said, when these disturbing allegations first came to light, the Governor must resign for the good of the state. Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor. Our highest elected offices must reflect the values and integrity that​ they profess and​ New Yorkers hold dear. I thank the Attorney General and her investigators for their thorough investigation.​ I also wanted to give a special thank you to the courageous women who bravely stepped forward to shed light on this awful situation. We all owe them a debt of gratitude.”

Here’s statement from Speaker Carl Heastie:

We have received the Attorney General’s 168 page report containing findings of sexual harassment and misconduct committed by Governor Cuomo. The findings contained in the report are disturbing. The details provided by the victims are gut-wrenching. Our hearts go out to all the individuals who have had to endure this horrible experience. The conduct by the Governor outlined in this report would indicate someone who is not fit for office.
The report has been forwarded to the members of the Judiciary Committee as well as all members of the Assembly. We will now undertake an in-depth examination of the report and its corresponding exhibits with our Assembly counsels as well the legal firm we have retained to assist us.
We will have more to say in the very near future.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio called the actions by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo described in a report released today by the New York attorney general “unacceptable” and “very troubling and painful to hear.”

De Blasio had not yet read the report as it was released by New York Attorney General Letitia James during his news conference but was read the summary by reporters during a question and answer session. He was read parts of the report that outlined actions of Cuomo that included unwanted touching, offensive comments and sexual harassment.

“The summary you just gave represents behavior that is unacceptable. Unacceptable to anyone let alone a public servant. I’ve been very clear about the fact that what we have seen is disqualifying. I’ll look at this report and have more to say. It’s very, very troubling and painful to hear that accounting of a powerful person treating people that way,” de Blasio said after being read a summary of the report. 

The mayor has been vocal about the allegations against the governor, at several points calling for the governor to step aside if allegations were true. 

De Blasio and Cuomo have been seen as political rivals and have often clashed on issues regarding New York City in the past.

Ana Liss and Charlotte Bennett, two former staffers who accused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of inappropriate conduct, reacted on their verified Twitter accounts to the New York Attorney General’s report.

“Thank you, thank you to everyone who expressed support out loud and in whispers,” Liss, a former aide to Cuomo, wrote on Twitter. “For hugs and hand squeezes and texts. Thank you.”

Bennett’s message said pointedly “Resign, [Gov. Cuomo].”

Bennett, a former executive assistant and health policy adviser, said she thought the governor was trying to sleep with her and she was deeply uncomfortable with questions he asked.

Both Bennett and Liss were named in the attorney general’s report.

Cuomo has repeatedly denied the allegations of misconduct and sexual harassment.  

Special investigator Joon Kim, a former federal prosecutor who led the attorney general’s investigation, said the allegations against Gov. Cuomo, “were not isolated incidences, they were part of a pattern.” 

He said that among those alleging harassment was a New York state trooper who was a member of Cuomo’s protective detail. According to the investigators, Cuomo on one occasion, allegedly ran his finger from the trooper’s neck down her spine while they were standing in an elevator. On another occasion, while the trooper was holding the door open for the governor, Cuomo allegedly ran his hand from her belly button to her right hip, the investigators said. On a third occasion, according to the report, Cuomo allegedly kissed her on the cheek in front of another trooper.

CNN has reached out to the New York State Police for comment.

The investigators’ report found that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Chamber staff committed “unlawful retaliation” in response to allegations of sexual harassment by one woman against the governor. 

The Executive Chamber’s response to sexual harassment allegations also violated its internal policies, the report says. 

The report concludes that Cuomo sexually harassed “a number of” state employees through unwelcome and unwanted touching and making numerous offensive and sexually suggestive comments. 

The governor’s conduct was “part of a pattern of behavior” that extended to his interactions with others outside of the state government, according to the report. 

“The culture of fear and intimidation, the normalization of inappropriate comments and interactions, and the poor enforcement of the policies and safeguards, contributed to the sexual harassment, retaliation, and an overall hostile work environment in the Executive Chamber,” the report says. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that her investigation concluded that Gov. Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

You can read the full report here.

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office’s report is civil in nature and does not any have criminal consequences.

James’ office does not have legal jurisdiction to bring forth criminal action. Special investigator Anne Clark said Tuesday that investigators are leaving it to local authorities to decide whether any criminal charges should be brought forward.

In the report, the investigators repeatedly described Cuomo’s conduct as “unlawful.” A footnote in the report, however, said that the report was not reaching a conclusion as to “whether the conduct amounts to or should be the subject of criminal prosecution. “

CNN legal analyst discuss:

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The investigators’ report released by the New York attorney general’s office Tuesday claims that Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed a number of current and former New York state employees by “numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women.”

The report states that Cuomo’s behavior was not limited to members of his own staff, but extended to other state employees, including a state trooper on his protective detail, as well as members of the public.

“We also conclude that the Executive Chamber’s culture—one filled with fear and intimidation, while at the same time normalizing the Governor’s frequent flirtations and gender-based comments—contributed to the conditions that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist,” investigators Joon Kim and Anne Clark wrote in the report. “That culture also influenced the improper and inadequate ways in which the Executive Chamber has responded to allegations of harassment.”

The report states Cuomo made specific denials of conduct that complainants recalled clearly, but investigators said “we found his denials to lack credibility and to be inconsistent with the weight of evidence obtained during our investigation.”

CNN has reached out to Cuomo’s office for comment.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced today that her investigation concluded that Gov. Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

An executive summary James released details some of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s alleged harassment.

Here’s what it says:

“We, the investigators appointed to conduct an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, conclude that the Governor engaged in conduct constituting sexual harassment under federal and New York State law. Specifically, we find that the Governor sexually harassed a number of current and former New York State employees by, among other things, engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, as well as making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women. Our investigation revealed that the Governor’s sexually harassing behavior was not limited to members of his own staff, but extended to other State employees, including a State Trooper on his protective detail and members of the public. We also conclude that the Executive Chamber’s culture—one filled with fear and intimidation, while at the same time normalizing the Governor’s frequent flirtations and gender-based comments—contributed to the conditions that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist. That culture also influenced the improper and inadequate ways in which the Executive Chamber has responded to allegations of harassment.”

Cuomo released a statement at the time of the allegations acknowledging some of his comments in the workplace “may have been insensitive or too personal” and said he was “truly sorry” to those who might have “misinterpreted (the remarks) as an unwanted flirtation.”

Cuomo has denied ever touching anyone inappropriately.

New York Attorney General Letitia James gave the details of her office’s investigation into Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

She said that over the course of the five-month investigation, the investigators spoke to 179 people, including complainants, current and former members of the executive chamber, state troopers, additional state employees, and others who interacted regularly with the governor. 

In addition, the investigators reviewed more than 74,000 pieces of evidence including documents, emails, texts, audio files, and pictures, James said. 

According to the report:

“Our investigation revealed that the Governor’s sexually harassing behavior was not limited to members of his own staff, but extended to other State employees, including a State Trooper on his protective detail and members of the public. We also conclude that the Executive Chamber’s culture—one filled with fear and intimidation, while at the same time normalizing the Governor’s frequent flirtations and gender-based comments—contributed to the conditions that allowed the sexual harassment to occur and persist. That culture also influenced the improper and inadequate ways in which the Executive Chamber has responded to allegations of harassment.”

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02:25 - Source: cnn

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced today that her investigation concluded that Gov. Andrew Cuomo “sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law.”

Here’s what the NY AG announced today:

“The independent investigation has concluded. That governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and violated state law and specifically the investigation found that governor Andrew Cuomo sexual harassed current and former state employees by engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching and making numerous comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women.
The investigators independently corroborated and substantiated these facts through interviews and evidence and including contemporaneous notes and communications. This evidence will be made available to the public along with the report.” 

A press conference is ongoing.

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02:07 - Source: cnn

In March, Alyssa McGrath, a current aide to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, joined a chorus of other women in accusing the governor of sexual harassment, accusing the Democrat of having behaved and spoken to her in an inappropriate sexual manner, The New York Times reported.

McGrath told the Times that Cuomo looked down her shirt during a one-on-one meeting, stared at her body, commented on her appearance and made suggestive comments to her and another executive aide. Additionally, Cuomo labeled her and a co-worker “mingle mamas,” asked about her divorce proceedings and lack of a wedding ring, and told her that she was beautiful in Italian, she told the paper. She did not accuse Cuomo of making sexual contact, but characterized his actions as sexual harassment.

More on the allegations against Cuomo: McGrath’s allegations echo those of other accusers – including former staffer Ana Liss, who says she met with investigators from the New York Attorney General’s Office on Thursday. The investigation into the multiple sexual harassment allegations facing the embattled governor has been ramping up in recent days, with Liss, Charlotte Bennett and Lindsey Boylan – all former staffers who have also accused Cuomo of sexual harassment – all meeting with investigators this week, CNN has reported.

During multiple interviews with the Times this week, McGrath asserted that Cuomo habitually interspersed personal conversation with flirtation and encouraged competition among female co-workers – a trend normalized and exacerbated by demands for secrecy.

“He has a way of making you feel very comfortable around him, almost like you’re his friend,” McGrath told the Times. “But then you walk away from the encounter or conversation, in your head going, ‘I can’t believe I just had that interaction with the governor of New York.’ “