26 April 2021: "I Didn't Do Anything Wrong" Says Governor Cuomo on Sexual Harassment Allegations

'I didn't do anything wrong': Andrew Cuomo denies harassment, groping allegations

Governor Cuomo's strategy of hiding behind (investigations/COVID/staged public events) to evade questioning by reporters was interrupted today at an event at the New York State Fairgrounds:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday flatly denied any allegations of sexual harassment or groping, telling reporters he "didn't do anything wrong" despite at least five current or former aides accusing him of misconduct in some form.

Cuomo, a Democrat, allowed members of the media to attend a news conference in person Monday at the New York State Fair grounds near Syracuse, marking the first time the press got to question the governor in a non-virtual setting since December.

The result was Cuomo facing a barrage of questions about the multiple scandals that have engulfed his administration in recent months, including various allegations of sexual harassment and a federal investigation into the state's underrepresenting of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19.

The following excerpt captures the general flavor of Goveror Cuomo's responses he provided to multiple questions about the allegations of sexual harassment levied against him:

The governor scoffed when asked Monday whether he would resign or discipline himself if the latter investigation determined he sexually harassed women.

"The report can't say anything different because I didn't do anything wrong," he said.

The news media was quick to get a response from Lindsay Boylan, the first woman to come forward with sexual harassment allegations:

The governor's comments drew an immediate rebuke from Lindsey Boylan, a former Cuomo aide who was the first to publicly accuse him of sexual harassment, first in a tweet last year and later in an online essay she published in February.

Among other comments and acts, Boylan claims Cuomo stepped in front of her and kissed her on the lips without consent as she exited a 2018 meeting in the governor's Manhattan office.

"Truly disgusting," Boylan tweeted Monday in response to Cuomo's comments. "This man is full of lies. Unfortunately for him, he does not control the truth and many people would have to ignore a lot of truth and evidence to accept this bulls---."

Note the difference between Boylan's nearly instant reaction and Governor Cuomo's relative non-responsiveness after weeks of hiding from questions.

Cuomo faces the press for first time since December

This article covers some of the same territory, but delves deeper into Governor Cuomo's pandemic "leadership" book scandal. Here's an excerpt:

Besides questions about sexual harassment, he fielded questions about his administration's nursing homes' policies and the alleged coverup by his administration of the true COVID-19 death toll in those facilities. He also was asked about his staff's assistance with the book, "American Crisis," he wrote and published about his administration's response to the pandemic while it was still unfolding.

“People volunteered to work on the book," he said. "Do you know anyone who said they have to work on the book who didn’t volunteer? Next question."

The reporter asking about that issue pressed on — something that would be impossible in a virtual press conference format — until the governor finally said: "I didn’t have them sign a volunteer form if that’s what you’re asking. ... Do you know anyone who worked on the book who said they didn’t volunteer?”

The Times Union has reported that some staffers said they did not believe their work was voluntary.

We'll pick up Governor Cuomo's comments regarding his COVID nursing home deaths scandals in a separate timeline entry.