The New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, once again became the talk of the town after his COVID-19 fraudulent claims, this time for even more severe accusations of harassing and imposing sexual intent towards women.
At least three women accused Cuomo of harassment, allegations that raised voices for the resignation of the governor once again after the Nursing Home saga.
Amid all of these crises, Cuomo’s bid to be the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee seems to end, as he has now been pushed into a dead-end tunnel.
What are the latest allegations against Andrew Cuomo, and will they be the final nail in Cuomo’s political coffin? Let’s explore some FAQs in this regard.
What is the rising controversy of Andrew Cuomo now?
Three women have accused Governor Cuomo to date of making unwanted sexual advances.
These three incidents include the harassment of Lindsey Bolan, a former staffer of Andrew Cuomo, who alleged Cuomo made sexual advances toward her in the recent past. She said,
“(Andrew Cuomo) sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it and watched.
(Lindsey Bolan)
As she stepped up, this encouraged other women too for being vocal about Cuomo’s behavior.
Then came Charlotte Bennett, a former aide of the governor who said that Andrew Cuomo investigated her sex life. Bennet, the former Health Policy Advisor of Cuomo, said that she was alone in Cuomo’s office when Cuomo started behaving strangely.
He investigated her views on the difference in age in romantic relationships. Not only this, but Cuomo also indicated to her that he was open to relationships with girls in their 20s.
Finally, the third woman came forward on whom Cuomo went physical by grabbing her from her lower back. Anna Ruch said that she faced harassment from the governor in a wedding ceremony in 2019.
According to one of the eyewitnesses, Cuomo put his hands firstly on Anna’s back and then on her cheeks, asking her if he could kiss her.
The eye witness further explained that Anna certainly did not say yes, but Cuomo advanced further and kissed her on the cheeks.
What is the reaction against the governor?
All of these allegations on Cuomo added up to the already looming crisis against Cuomo amid his fraudulent approach to handling the coronavirus crisis.
The voices for the resignation of Cuomo are more than ever today. With few standing alongside him, he is facing backlash not only from the Republicans but also from the Democratic ranks.
The Democratic-dominated New York Assembly is also seeking to impeach Cuomo for varying charges ranging from fraudulent reporting on coronavirus numbers to sexual harassment.
Did Cuomo offer an apology after the latest revelations?
Yes, Cuomo did apologize for the latest allegations against him. In fact, he called the events a misinterpretation of the facts. It means that he straightforwardly denies the allegations. He said,
“I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.”
(Andrew Cuomo)
What is the status of the investigation into the controversy?
Andrew Cuomo initially refused to hand over the investigations to the Attorney General’s office. Instead, he tried to hand it over to Barbara Jones, former U.S. District Judge, who had close relations with one of the former advisors of the governor.
This made people cried foul as the transparent investigations were not expected this way.
Finally, Cuomo conceded to change the lead to the investigations. Now, the Attorney General of New York is leading the investigation against Andrew Cuomo.
Letitia James, New York Attorney General, said,
“This is not a responsibility we take lightly, as allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously.”
(Letitia James)
Now Letitia James will appoint independent investigators for the probe.
What is the reaction of mainstream Democrats to the incident?
As the allegations sparked outrage in the mainstream media channels, Nancy Pelosi said that the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo are “credible.”
She also encouraged independent investigations into the events to uncover the hidden truth.
The White House also issued a statement, pushing Cuomo into further hot water. Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary, said,
“We certainly believe that every woman coming forward, Charlotte, Lindsey, should be treated with respect and dignity and be able to tell their story.”
(Jen Psaki)
Final Thoughts
It seems that Cuomo has lost all the respect he earned over the years, not only in the eyes of the politicians but also the general public.
The severity of the allegations demands an independent probe to bring Cuomo to justice.
While he still may try to influence the investigation by abusing his powers, Letitia James should make the investigations as fair as possible.
No one thought that the governor who was once praised worldwide for his actions against the pandemic would meet this fate.
If the investigation concludes against Cuomo, New York Democrats should also come forward to disown Cuomo at the earliest possible convenience to impeach him from the state’s legislature.
Eli is a Political Data Scientist with over thirty years of experience in Data Engineering, Analytics, and Digital Marketing. Eli uses his expertise to give the latest information and distinctive analysis on US Political News, US Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, and Racial Justice equipping readers with the inequivalent knowledge.