New York Governor Andrew Cuomo refused to resign Wednesday despite saying he regrets three women who claim he sexually molested them.
An emotional cuomo also urged the public to on hold as New York Attorney General Letitia James oversees an investigation into allegations made by women, two of whom had previously worked as his aides.
“I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable,” said the embattled Democrat in his first public comments on the women’s allegations. “It was unintentional.”
“And I really apologize deeply for it,” he said. “I feel terrible about it.”
“I certainly never plan to offend, hurt or hurt anyone,” said Cuomo. “This is the last thing I ever want to do.”
When asked directly whether he would resign midway through his third term, Cuomo said, “I will not resign.”
“I work for the people of New York,” he added. “I’m going to do the job that the people of the state chose me to do.”
In addition to the sexual harassment scandal, Cuomo has received widespread criticism in recent weeks for covering up statistics on Covid deaths in nursing homes and bullying lawmakers and others from the state.
The governor said he would “fully cooperate with the harassment investigation by any attorney or attorneys that James will appoint”. These lawyers have the power to compel witnesses, including Cuomo, to answer their questions.
“I ask New Yorkers to wait for the attorney general’s facts before forming an opinion,” said Cuomo.
The 63-year-old governor was first accused last week by former adjutant Lindsey Boylan of kissing her without her consent and jokingly suggested a game of strip poker on an official flight. Cuomo’s office strongly declined Boylan’s account at the time of posting on Medium.com.
Within days, another former aide, Charlotte Bennett, 25, told the New York Times that Cuomo had asked her questions last year, including whether she “had ever been with an older man,” whether she was in their relationships being monogamous and other personal questions that made her uncomfortable.
Bennett said it was clear that Cuomo was seeking a sexual relationship with her.
On Monday, the Times published claims by another woman, Anna Ruch, who said that Cuomo, whom she did not know, put his hand on her bare lower back at a wedding. The governor then told her she was “aggressive” when, according to Ruch, he put his hands around her face.
Ruch, who previously worked in the White House during the Obama administration, said Cuomo then asked if he could kiss her.
A photo of an uncomfortable looking Ruch with Cuomo on his face accompanied this article.
Bennett on Monday beat up Cuomo for his “predatory behavior” and asked other women to come forward if they had similar complaints about his behavior.
Ruch’s report increased the number of people who have urged Cuomo to resign, including New York Democratic MP Kathleen Rice.
On Wednesday, Cuomo spoke to reporters for the first time about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and related developments in New York. Then he turned to the sexual harassment scandal that had plagued him since last week.
“I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly,” he said. “Firstly, I fully support a woman’s right to speak up and I think that should be encouraged in every way.”
After apologizing for making the women uncomfortable, Cuomo said, “I’m embarrassed and it’s not easy to say, but that’s the truth.”
“I want you to know … I’ve never touched anyone inappropriately,” said the governor. “I never knew then that I was making someone feel uncomfortable.”
“And I never plan to offend, hurt, or hurt anyone.”
“I learned an important lesson from an incredibly difficult situation for myself and other people,” said Cuomo.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the pain I’ve caused someone. I never meant to, and I’ll be better for the experience.”
While interviewing reporters, Cuomo later said, “You can find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people, men, women. It’s my usual and customary way of greeting.”
“By the way, it was my father’s way of greeting people,” he said, referring to his late father, Mario Cuomo, who himself was governor.
Cuomo tried last weekend to see who would investigate Boylan’s and Bennett’s allegations, saying that a former federal judge would do the job.
The governor then sought the state chief magistrate to work with James to oversee the investigation.
Cuomo’s efforts sparked a political backlash, and James explicitly opposed the deal. The governor gave in quickly and his office said James would handle the probe himself.
