2 August 2021: Cuomo Won't Say If He Will Submit to Polygraph Lie Detector Examination

A.M. Roundup: Cuomo pushed Kavanaugh to take polygraph ... but won't himself

Here's a brief blurb from an article published earlier this morning on Andrew M. Cuomo's willingness to submit himself to a polygraph test.

The woman who accused Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of groping her at the Executive Mansion last year would be willing to take a polygraph lie-detector examination, and she would also like the governor to submit to one. Cuomo, after all, had demanded then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh take a polygraph for similar sexual misconduct allegations. (Spoiler alert: Cuomo won't do it.)

Here's additional background information from an article that was published on Friday, 30 July 2021:

The woman who accused Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of groping her at the Executive Mansion last year informed her attorney when they first discussed the allegations in early March that she would be willing to take a polygraph lie-detector examination, and that she would also like the governor to submit to one as well.

A spokesman for the governor referred comment to Cuomo's attorney, Rita Glavin, who late Friday characterized the matter as "press ploys." She declined to say whether Cuomo would consent to submit to an independent polygraph examination to answer questions about the female aide's allegations.

"A full process, a fair process, the evidence and the truth will exonerate the governor," Glavin said.

The article then gets into why Andrew M. Cuomo's willingness to submit to a polygraph examination is highly relevant for the investigation of his alleged sexual harassment of the woman:

In 2018, Cuomo issued a statement directed at then-President Donald J. Trump in which he called on U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to take a polygraph test. Kavanaugh was facing sexual misconduct allegations during his confirmation proceedings before Congress — the most serious of which were revealed during the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford.

"Here is one basic fact that badly hurts Judge Kavanaugh: Why won't he take a polygraph? Dr. Ford did," Cuomo said in the statement. "If he does not take a polygraph test, it is the ultimate, 'he said, she said.' It is the one powerful piece of evidence that seriously damages his credibility and the credibility of his Republican supporters, including yourself. You can and should ask him to take the test. If he refuses, you should pull the appointment. ... Do not aid and abet a lie. Demand a polygraph."...

Polygraph examinations are a frequent tool of the FBI, State Police and other law enforcement and investigative agencies. In New York, applicants seeking to become a state trooper must submit to a polygraph examination. Through the first six months of this year, State Police have conducted 480 polygraph examinations — 102 in criminal investigations and 378 for job applicants....

It's not unprecedented for polygraph examinations to be conducted in cases in which public figures have been accused of similar misconduct. In 2004, then-Albany Bishop Howard J. Hubbard submitted to a polygraph examination during an investigation conducted by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White into allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct. White reported that the test indicated Hubbard had been truthful when he answered questions during the exam.

From his 2018 statements and the continuing use of polygraph examinations by New York state law enforcement officials, it's clear Cuomo believes polygraph examinations produce results that are useful for investigations. Can he afford the charges of hypocrisy that would arise from his refusing to submit to such an examination?