Andrew Cuomo is apologizing after a second accusation of sexual harassment, but his explanation shows the New York Governor doesn’t understand, or is simply ignoring the accusations against him.
The most recent accusation comes from former aide Charlotte Bennett. According to the New York Times she “is accusing him of sexual harassment, saying that he asked her questions about her sex life, whether she was monogamous in her relationships and if she had ever had sex with older men.” Note that she is only 25, while Cuomo is 63-years-old. Bennett alleges the “most unsettling episode” came last June when she says “I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared.”
Anyone is afforded the right to be innocent until proven guilty, but Cuomo practically indicted himself in his “apology.” Here’s part of what he said:
“At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I do, on occasion, tease people in what I think is a good natured way. I do it in public and in private. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times. I have teased people about their personal lives, their relationships, about getting married or not getting married. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business.”
The problem is there is no room in the work place for a person in a position of power to speak with a young woman (or a woman of any age) about her sex life or to “tease” about “personal lives.”
The first accusation against Cuomo came from former state economic development official Lindsey Boylan. She documents her “story of working with Governor Cuomo” in a post on Medium. While on a work trip she alleges Cuomo told her, “Let’s play strip poker.” She cites another occasion where she was in his office and “he stepped in front of me and kissed me on the lips.” If true, neither of those instances would in any way be considered appropriate work behavior. With all that in mind, this part of Cuomo’s response is curious. In his statement, he said:
“I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. 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.”
To just call it “insensitive” or “unwanted flirtation” shows he just thinks his behavior was “misinterpreted,” not that it was completely inappropriate and wrong in any shape or form.
Now, someone else will determine whether Cuomo is guilty of harassment and whether there will be any recourse against him. The AP points out that on Sunday, “Cuomo acquiesced to demands that Attorney General Letitia James control the inquiry.”
James said she expected to receive a formal referral that would give her office subpoena power and allow her to deputize an outside law firm for “a rigorous and independent investigation.”
Some of the most prominent female politicians in New York are supporting the investigation.
