New York Gov Cuomo sexually harassed women, state probe finds

Investigators spoke to 179 people including members of Cuomo’s executive staff and state police protective detail across a five-month period and reviewed more than 74,000 pieces of evidence including emails, texts, audio files and pictures.

“These interviews and pieces of evidence reveal a deeply disturbing yet clear picture,” said James, who does not plan to bring state charges against the governor, instead leaving the legal fallout from the investigation largely to civil courts.

“We have concluded our investigation. Our work is done. As it relates to next steps, that’s entirely up to the governor and the General Assembly and the general public,” James said.

New York State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins joined other New York politicians in calling for Cuomo’s immediate resignation.

“Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as governor,” Stewart-Cousins said in a statement on Tuesday.

Statement from Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins pic.twitter.com/WW3uBqU8Kr

— Sen. Stewart-Cousins (@AndreaSCousins) August 3, 2021

“The fact that there are 11 women coming forward is deeply, deeply disturbing,” said Kirstin Gillibrand, a US senator from New York. “I do believe he should resign.”

Cuomo had previously denied the sexual harassment allegations by at least six women against him and refused to step down as New York state’s top government executive.

“What is alleged, did not happen,” Cuomo said during a news conference on March 12. “I’ve not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate, period,” he said.

State investigators on Tuesday described retaliation by the governor and his top aides against the women who brought allegations against him.

Probe reveals a ‘deeply disturbing, yet clear picture’ of illegal sexual conduct towards young women in ‘toxic’ state workplace.

Police in the state capital of Albany have a report from one woman who said Cuomo touched her breast, investigators said. In his video statement on Tuesday, Cuomo said he would welcome a court trial of the facts in the case.

President Joe Biden had said in March when the investigation began that Cuomo should resign if it confirmed the sexual harassment allegations against the governor.

“I think he’d probably end up being prosecuted, too,” Biden told ABC News when asked about the allegations against Cuomo.

A group of 59 New York state legislators, along with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio demanded Cuomo’s resignation in March after an allegation surfaced that Cuomo had groped a government aide at the governor’s state residence last year.

“The specific allegation that the governor called an employee of his, someone who he had power over, called them to a private place and then sexually assaulted her – it’s absolutely unacceptable,” de Blasio, a Democrat who has publicly feuded with Cuomo, said at the time.

World Opinions News / AL JAZEERA