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Just a few years ago, the #MeToo movement has constantly made headlines as it is centered around sexual misconduct by men in powerful positions. New York governor Andrew Cuomo is being faced with sexual harassment allegations from two females who are formal aides who both described according to CNNPolitics “an unsettling power dynamic in his office that they say they are determined to call attention to.” Cuomo’s office has been under “independent review” by a formal federal judge. After criticism by Democratic lawmakers about the “independent review”, they went back and forth about how they will approach the situation. It was said on Sunday, February 28th by the New York attorney general will appoint an independent investigator.
Nearly 24-hours after the second sexual harassment allegation, Cuomo says he now sees why people perceive “playful” banter in the office. But instead has been “misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”
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Charlotte Bennett, a 25-year-old who is a former executive assistant and health policy advisor for Cuomo, told the newspaper about one of her uncomfortable encounters with Cuomo. One of them being Cuomo asking Bennett about her sex life while they were in the State Capitol office where he also explains he “was open to relationships with women in their 20s.” This all happened in June 2020 as the state was fighting the pandemic. When Bennett asked what happened to her, Cuomo explains that he was acting like a mentor and “never made advances toward Ms. Bennett, nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.”CNNPolitics reported. He further says according to CNNPolitics, “The last thing I would ever have wanted was to make her feel any of the things that are being reported," Cuomo said, saying that "she came to me and opened up about being a sexual assault survivor" and that "I tried to be supportive and helpful.”
Cuomo noted that he previously requested an “outside review” of the matter before people make any judgments. He characterized Charlotte Bennett as a hardworking and valued member of their team during the pandemic. Cuomo continues to say that Bennett has every right to speak out.
Charlotte Bennett tells the New York Times about the second sexual harassment allegation that she only spoke up because she wanted to show how Cuomo “wields his power.” She explains that Cuomo did not make any physical advances on her but further explains that she understood that he wanted to sleep with her, and she became uncomfortable and scared. Bennett also wondered how she was going to get out of it and assumed if she said anything, she would lose her job.
When Bennett agreed to speak with the New York Times, she shared a tweet by another former aide of Cuomo, Lindsey Boylan, which the tweet was made for people eager to read if they wanted to know what it was like working for Cuomo. Boylan explains in her post that Cuomo invited her to “play strip poker” in 2017 on a taxpayer-funded flight. In 2018, Cuomo surprised Boylan with a kiss on the lips after one briefing on economic and infrastructure projects in his New York office. Cuomo later denied the accusations made by Boylan but instead says that the conversation never happened.
Lindsey Boylan later explains that Governor Andrew Cuomo created his administration off of sexual harassment and bullying which is not only condoned but expected. Inappropriate behavior towards women was a sign that he liked them, and you must be doing something right. He used intimidation as silence and if you dared to speak up about it, you
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would face consequences.
Boylan puts out another tweet saying that he should resign “And if he does not resign, he should be removed from office. Not one more victim. No more life destroyed.” CNNPolitics reported. New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Steward Cousins, a Democrat according to CNNPolitics states. “This is deeply disturbing. Clearly there is no place for this type of behavior in the workplace or anywhere else.”
Cuomo replies by saying that his interactions with his female aides were often playful in conversation. He continues to say that he did not mean to offend or cause harm to anyone but instead “add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business.” "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended," Cuomo said in the statement Sunday night. "I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that."CNNPolitics reported.
Now facing two allegations against him, Cuomo will have to explain what kind of behavior he has created within his three terms of being governor. Political adversaries are deeply questioning his political tactics of his administration and the handling of the Covid-19 data.
The sexual harassment allegations explain the state Department of Health's underreporting “of Covid-19 nursing home deaths and the administration's delay in providing data about those deaths to state lawmakers.” CNNPolitics reported. Some state lawmakers have accused Cuomo of covering this up and in doing so, they are considering repealing the governor's emergency powers. Lawmakers are asking if the number of deaths in long-term care facilities could have been prevented.
In the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak last year, New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s attitude towards the virus was rather nonchalant. While he kept this care-free attitude, Americans across the world were terrified of this new deadly virus and many cities began to fill their hospitals. A year has passed, and many speculate the Democratic governor’s ability to make it through his fourth term in the 2022 election.
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According to the state Department of Health, “More than 15,000 residents of New York's long-term care facilities have died (or are presumed to have died) from Covid-19 since the pandemic began.” The reported deaths were only from long-term care patients but not from people who passed away on their way to being transferred to a hospital.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the most high-profile lawmakers in Washington D.C, favored “a full investigation of the Cuomo administration's handling of nursing homes during COVID-19.” CNNPolitics reported. Throughout the year, New York lawmakers were drilling the administration on this for more clearer answers about the Covid data. It is mentioned that the Cuomo administration did not answer the lawmakers request soon enough about the data but ensures that it is all accurate. The void in response for the lawmakers allowed conspiracy theories to be developed. "The void we created by not providing information was filled with skepticism and cynicism and conspiracy theories which furthered the confusion. We should have done a better job in providing information. We should have done a better job of knocking down the disinformation. ... I accept responsibility for that." Cuomo says in response to not providing the data on time. CNNPolitics reported.