Cuomo’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Allegations Rise

Courtesy+of+new10.com

Courtesy of new10.com

Tavishi Chattopadhyay, Staff Writer

Cuomo faces more sexual harassment and assault allegations as more women come forward. Throughout the past few months, Cuomo has been in deep water with criticism of his handling of the nursing home scandal and these new allegations. 

Recently, multiple women have come forth with allegations of sexual harassment and assault that they faced working with Cuomo. When two former female aides came forth with charges, Cuomo’s office requested an independent review of the case and hired a former federal judge to do it. However, after facing criticism over this decision the office decided to leave the matter to the New York Attorney General, Letitia James, who says that she will appoint an independent investigator. 

Charlotte Bennett, a 25 year old former executive assistant and health policy adviser, reports that Cuomo had asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life and stated that he would sleep with a woman in her 20’s.  In a statement released after the second sexual harassment allegation, Cuomo said that he “never intended to act in an inappropriate way.”(CNN) and that he was acting as a mentor and not making any advances. Cuomo and his office have responded similarly to each other’s allegations, either claiming Cuomo never intended for his actions to be interpreted that way or flat out denying the allegations. Cuomo released a statement about Bennett specifically saying that she was a hardworking and valued member of the COVID team. However Bennett says that she was worried because, “I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,” she told the newspaper. “And was wondering how I was going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job.” CNBC covered all the other allegations. Other allegations against Cuomo include Karen Hinton, who reports that Cuomo invited her to a dimly lit hotel room where he proceeded to embrace her. When she tried to leave he embraced her again before she was finally able to leave. Peter Ajemian, Cuomo’s communication director, says that Hinton’s allegations did not happen and has questioned Hinton’s credibility. Ana Liss said that in 2014 the governor hugged her, kissed her cheeks, and grabbed her waist. She also states that Cuomo asked her questions about her personal life and called her sweetheart, questions that included whether she had a boyfriend. Anna Ruch reports that she and Cuomo met at a wedding where he put his hand on her bare lower back and asked to kiss her. Lindsey Boylan has been outspoken about what Cuomo has done to her and has supported all the women who have come forth with allegations. While it shows progress that these allegations are being taken seriously and Cuomo is being held accountable. Many women are questioning if anyone has learned anything from the #MeToo movement. Lily Burana writes to express her fatigue, “I’m suffering creep fatigue.” Adding, “I’m tired of women who come forward constantly being derided and their stories being discounted, if they’re even allowed a platform at all. I’m tired of men skirting repercussions for their actions.”