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Gov. Andrew Cuomo: ‘I Never Touched Anyone Inappropriately’
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) delivered his first public remarks since being accused of sexual harassment, declaring in a press conference: “I never touched anyone inappropriately.”
“The lawyers say that I shouldn’t say anything until that review is over, I’m a lawyer too, but I want New Yorkers to hear directly from me on that. I fully support a woman’s right to come forward, it should be encouraged in every way,” Cuomo said. “I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional, and I truly and deeply apologize for it, I feel awful about it, and frankly, I am embarrassed by it, and that is not easy to say but it is the truth.”
Gov. Cuomo: “I never touched anyone inappropriately. I never touched anyone inappropriately.”https://t.co/oyooKtAQuo pic.twitter.com/usGxok8lGR
— Dan Linden (@DanLinden) March 3, 2021
“I never touched anyone inappropriately,” the governor added. “I never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable.”
Cuomo then urged New Yorkers to wait for the facts to be made public prior to judging the situation.
“I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts of the attorney general’s report before forming an opinion, get the facts please before forming an opinion,” Cuomo urged.
Cuomo then made clear that he will not resign from his post, saying: “I’m going to do the job the people of the state elected me to do.”
Cuomo then apologized for making anyone feel uncomfortable, calling the allegations an “important lesson”
“I also want you to know that I have learned from what has been an incredible, difficult situation for me as well as other people, and I’ve learned an important lesson. I’m sorry, I’m sorry for whatever pain I caused anyone, I never intended it, and I will be the better for this experience,” the governor said.
Cuomo hadn’t spoken publicly since giving New York Attorney General Letitia James a referral to investigate claims that he sexually harassed at least two women in his administration.
One former aide, Charlotte Bennett, 25, said Cuomo quizzed her about her sex life and asked whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man. Bennett rejected Cuomo’s attempted apology, in which he said he’d been trying to be “playful” and that his jokes had been misinterpreted as flirting.
Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, said Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately, kissed her without her consent at the end of a meeting, and once suggested they play strip poker while aboard his state-owned jet. Cuomo has denied Boylan’s allegations.
And another woman, Anna Ruch, told The New York Times that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her at a September 2019 wedding.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
N.Y. Legislature agrees to remove Gov. Cuomo’s emergency powers
March 2 (UPI) — The New York State Legislature agreed Tuesday to repeal Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s emergency powers that were granted to him at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced the legislature would pass legislation to immediately strip Cuomo of the powers that were set to expire April 30.
“A year into the pandemic and as New Yorkers receive the vaccine, the temporary emergency powers have served their purpose — it is time for them to be repealed,” Heastie said. “These temporary emergency powers were granted as New York was devastated by a virus we knew nothing about. Now it is time for our government to return to regular order.”
As the pandemic emerged last March, the legislature granted Cuomo broad authority to issue executive orders critical to New York’s pandemic response.
Under the new legislation, Cuomo’s executive orders related to managing the spread or reduction of COVID-19, facilitating the vaccination process or requiring the use of face coverings will remain in effect for an additional 30 days. In order to modify or extend the directives further, Cuomo will be required to notify the Legislature.
“I think everyone understands where we were back in March and where we are now,” Stewart-Cousins said. “We certainly see the need for a quick response but also want to move toward a system of increased oversight and review. The public deserves to have checks and balances.”
The decision came as Cuomo faces separate investigations for an alleged coverup of the COVID-19 death toll in the state’s nursing homes and multiple allegations of sexual harassment, however, neither was mentioned in Tuesday’s announcement.
New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a statement saying the executive chamber transmitted a referral to her office Monday providing her the authority to move forward with an independent investigation into the sexual harassment allegations.
“This is not a responsibility we take lightly as allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously,” she said.
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