The powerful governor of New York State faced fresh criticism on Monday for claiming that the two women accusing him of sexual harassment had “misinterpreted” his remarks, while the state prosecutor confirmed launching a investigating these charges.
• Read also: Accused of sexual harassment, Cuomo says he is “sorry” for “misinterpreted” comments
• Read also: New York governor accused of sexual harassment by second woman
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Democrat Andrew Cuomo, 63, one of America’s most powerful governors, said he was “sorry” on Sunday after two former collaborators accused him of sexual harassment within days.
Mr. Cuomo, who has ruled New York State for 10 years, said he never wanted to make advances to them, only wanted to “joke” or “tease”.
“I realize that some of the things I said were misinterpreted, like unsolicited flirtation. If some had this impression, I am really sorry, ”he added.
These remarks were badly received.
The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, with notoriously difficult relations with the governor, judged that he had “not apologized”.
“It’s like he’s saying, ‘I was just kidding,’ but sexual harassment isn’t funny. He seemed to shake off all blame for something that, to the women involved, seemed pretty terrifying. “
A group of former parliamentary aides who denounce harassment in the New York State parliament, the Sexual Harrassment Working Group, also deemed the governor’s message “insulting”.
“He refuses to accept his responsibilities and we have no reason to believe that he is not going to repeat this behavior,” the organization tweeted.
While some New York elected officials, including the Democratic majority, are calling for the resignation of Mr. Cuomo, whose third term expires at the end of 2022, the leaders of both chambers have abstained for the moment, pending the results of a investigating these allegations.
“We will wait for the report, but I believe that we will eventually have to do something, and the question of whether the governor can continue (to occupy his post) remains open”, indicated Monday the number 2 Democrat of the Senate new -Yorker, Mike Gianaris, at NY1.
State Attorney Letitia James confirmed on Monday that Mr. Cuomo had finally agreed to hand over the investigation to her.
“The results will be revealed in a public report,” she said, without specifying how soon.
A former economic adviser to the governor, Lindsey Boylan, 36, said on Wednesday that the governor had kissed her unsolicited on the mouth and suggested that she play strip poker with him between 2015 and 2018.
On Saturday, Charlotte Bennett, 25, said the governor had made advances that had made her “uncomfortable” in the spring of 2020.
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