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Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women and fostered a toxic work environment, violating federal and state law, according to a bombshell, and much-anticipated investigation by State Attorney General Letitia James released Tuesday.
The five-month probe led by outside lawyers Joon Kim and Anne Clark found that Cuomo harassed 11 women, including touching them without consent and making inappropriate comments.
“What this investigation revealed was a disturbing pattern of conduct by the governor of the great State of New York and those who basically did not put in place any protocols or procedures to protect these young women who believed in public service,” said James at a press conference releasing the findings. “I believe women, and I believe these 11 women.”
According to the report, the women include nine who worked for the Governor or the state and two members of the public, whom he stands accused of groping and touching inappropriately, kissing, or making otherwise sexual remarks.
During a taped video statement released Tuesday afternoon, the governor denied the allegations but offered an apology — kind of — to one of the 11 victims, Charlotte Bennett, but defended his statements and conduct as being misinterpreted.
Throughout the day following the report’s release Governor lost support from several high-ranking Democrats who had previously not called for him to step down, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden.
“I think he should resign,” said Biden in response to a reporter’s question at an unrelated press conference Wednesday evening.
President Biden calls on NY Governor Andrew Cuomo to step down after sexual harassment allegations: 'I think he should resign.' pic.twitter.com/0FGaaMSs44
— Poli Alert ⚖️ (@polialertcom) August 3, 2021
Biden said he had not spoken with the governor that day and stopped short of calling for impeachment, leaving that decision up to New York State lawmakers.
“I understand that the state legislature may decide to impeach,” Biden said. “I’ve not read the report. I don’t know the details of it. All I know is the end result.
Many of the allegations had already appeared in the press over the past months, but the investigation also revealed previously unreported incidents, such as a State Trooper who was assigned to Cuomo’s security detail.
Cuomo allegedly kissed her on the cheek in front of another trooper and asked her to kiss him on another occasion, which she declined, and made numerous suggestive comments, the investigation shows.
