Cuomo reveals he's talked with his daughters about sex harassment claims – but dodges question on running for 4th term
NEW YORK Governor Andrew Cuomo addressed the multiple sexual harassment allegations made against him and revealed he had discussed the scandals with his three daughters.
Cuomo continued to deny any wrongdoing during a conference call on Tuesday, just hours after a sixth woman came forward accusing him, reported by the Times Union.
He disclosed that he had spoken about the "spectrum of allegations" of inappropriate behavior made against him with his daughters – Michaela, 23, Mariah, 26, and Cara, 26.
The Governor shares the girls with his ex-wife Kerry Kennedy, the daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who he divorced in 2002.
"I told them what I told you, which is I never touched anyone inappropriately," Cuomo said. "I never made any inappropriate advances, and nobody ever told me at the time that I made them feel uncomfortable or awkward."
He claimed to be unaware of the damning report, that alleges he inappropriately touched a female member of the Executive Chamber staff at his mansion late last year.
Cuomo instead opted to double down on his previous responses, saying, "As I said last week, this is very simple: I never touched anyone inappropriately.
"As I said last week, I never made any inappropriate advances. As I said last week, no one ever told me at the time I made them feel uncomfortable.
"Obviously, there are people who’ve said after the fact they felt uncomfortable. No one told me that at the time."
The New York Gov encouraged Americans to "respect" and wait for the outcome of the independent investigation into the allegations before condemning him, as there could then be "a discussion of facts."
"Every woman has a right to come forward.
"I encourage that. Let the investigation get the facts, and we’ll take it from there."
Governor Cuomo has continued to maintain his innocence and has repeatedly stated he has no intention of resigning from his position.
When asked by a reporter whether he was considering a fourth term amid the misconduct claims, he bit back with: "Today's not a day for politics, I'm focusing on my job."
Cuomo refused to answer the question about his future political plans, adding, "You don't know any facts, you know allegations. Let's operate on facts."
He also discussed the latest covid figures on the 4pm conference call, while repeating the morning's announcement that over 60s are now eligible to receive a vaccine.
A number of former aides and employees of the 'Love Gov' have come forward making accusations against him.
The sixth woman to come forward follows former aides, Charlotte Bennett and Lindsey Boylan, claiming he harassed them.
A third woman, Anna Ruch, also came forward and told The New York Times that Cuomo touched her lower back, then grabbed her cheeks and asked to kiss her at a September 2019 wedding.
Cuomo also allegedly asked staffer Ana Liss, now 35, if she had a boyfriend and once touched her lower back at an event, according to a report.
In addition to Liss, another woman opened up this weekend about her experience working with Cuomo over two decades ago.
A former press aide of Cuomo, 62-year-old Karen Hinton, has alleged the Governor summoned her to his "dimly-lit" hotel room and hugged her after a work event about 21 years ago, The Washington Post reported.
The Governor responded to the harassment claims earlier this week and admitted he was "embarrassed".
During a remote mid-week briefing, he said: "I understand sensitivities have changed, behaviors have changed, and I’m going to learn from it."
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