Friday, April 23, 2021

23 April 2021: Cuomo Stages Harlem Public Event, Dodges Question About Sexual Harassment Allegations

Gov. Cuomo refuses to address sexual harassment claims, calls to resign

This report covers a staged public event in Harlem on Friday, 23 April 2021, from which reporters were banned from participating in person. Let's get to the report's coverage of what Governor Cuomo was asked via the Zoom teleconferencing application and didn't answer:

During a virtual event in Harlem, Cuomo was asked about the ongoing investigations launched by state Attorney General Letitia James and the state Assembly into reports that he sexually harassed women....

“What you’ve already said that you’ve done, which is: touching people, sometimes kissing them, hugging them, being friendly, that type of thing and supportive … if that is all the investigations show, and they [consider] that under the definition of executive chamber handbook as sexual harassment, would you resign then or not run for re-election? If they just [see] what you said you’ve already done?” reporter Michael Gormley of Long Island’s Newsday newspaper asked via Zoom.

And here was Governor Cuomo's non-response:

“On the review, what I’ve said there a number of times, Michael, is, let the review proceed and then there’ll be a lot to talk about in the review.”

“There’s a lot that I want to talk about in the review. You know there’s been one side of the story,” he continued.

“And then the attorney general, I refer to do it — pick people to do an independent review. That’s the referral on this matter. And then the legislature started a review. So there will be a lot to talk about on this situation.”

The last portion of the statement refers to Governor Cuomo's 28 February 2021 referral for New York Attorney General to investigate the sexual harassment allegations raised by just two women at that point in time. A month later, the total number of public accusers would reach nine. Governor Cuomo's gamble to defuse the first two sexual harassment allegations would appear to have somewhat backfired.

It's also funny that Governor Cuomo is now boasting of initiating an independent review of the sexual harassment allegations he is facing. He spent a substantial amount of time trying block independent investigations of his COVID nursing home deaths scandals in 2020. Here's some of that story from the timeline:

-