“I am 63 years old, I’ve lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am and that’s not who I have ever been.”
(Picture: Getty Images)New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded to State Attorney General Letitia James’s bombshell report alleging he sexually harassed 11 women, perpetuating a “toxic culture” that enabled his behaviour in the office. However Cuomo vehemently refutes the report’s claims, and did so while narrating a montage of him hugging and kissing various people.
In a fifteen-minute long pre-recorded video, Cuomo asserts that “the facts are much different than what has been portrayed” and that the allegations “unfairly characterize and weaponize everyday interactions that I’ve had with any number of New Yorkers,” which he later demonstrated with photographic evidence in the video.
Governor Cuomo Responds to Independent Reviewer Report: https://t.co/sgPuPEDXRU
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 3, 2021
“I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances,” he continued. “I am 63 years old, I’ve lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am and that’s not who I have ever been.”
“I’ve been making the same gesture all my life. I actually learned it from my mother and form my father,” he said, referring to photo in which he grasps one accuser’s cheeks to kiss her at a 2019 wedding. “It is meant to convey warmth, nothing more…There are hundreds if not thousands of photos of me using the exact same gesture. I do it with everyone,” he continued, as a montage of photos depicting Cuomo embracing various citizens with hugs and kisses began to play.
Gov. Cuomo has released an 85-page written response to the independent investigation, but it's only 26 pages of text. Most of the rest is dozens of photos of him hugging people and other politicians hugging people: https://t.co/qjNW1idpOY pic.twitter.com/AmyfNpKzXG
— Brian M. Rosenthal (@brianmrosenthal) August 3, 2021
“I do it with everyone. Black, white, young, old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers, people who I meet on the street,” Cuomo narrated over the slideshow.
Gov. Cuomo’s 85-page defense in response to the independent investigation uses photos of President Biden hugging Vice President Harris as proof of… it’s not entirely clear? https://t.co/5mpnHXN0MT pic.twitter.com/XltNgjfaB0
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) August 3, 2021
Twitter is flummoxed by Cuomo’s decision to quite literally play a montage of hugging photos in an attempt to defend himself.
I’m listening to Cuomo’s response.
— Lavern Spicer (@lavern_spicer) August 3, 2021
He’s not resigning. He’s actually trying to explain it away.
This is disgusting.
Others are mocking the statement in general, pointing out his hypocrisy in other areas, like his mismanagement of nursing homes at the height of Covid.
Gov. Cuomo’s response seems oddly familiar.
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) August 3, 2021
Where else have I seen a brash New Yorker in high office shrug off detailed sexual harassment accusations and refuse to resign despite clear evidence of misconduct?
I swear I’ve seen this before.
🤔🤔🤔
Most people are shocked that Cuomo has yet to step down.
Someone’s gotta tell Cuomo “I sexually harass everyone” isn’t the defense he thinks it is
— Olayemi Olurin (@msolurin) August 3, 2021
In a press conference earlier today, State Attorney General Letitia James said, “The independent investigation has concluded that Governor Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, and in doing so, violated federal and state law. Specifically, the investigation found that Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed current and former New York State employees by engaging in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching, and making numerous offensive comments of a suggestive and sexual nature.”
Inbox: Both of New York’s Senators reiterate their call for Governor Cuomo to resign. pic.twitter.com/w581F8OWKy
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) August 3, 2021
Several politicians have since called for Cuomo to resign, including Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer, and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio: "It is beyond clear that Andrew Cuomo is not fit to hold office and can no longer serve as Governor. He must resign, and if he continues to resist and attack the investigators who did their jobs, he should be impeached immediately."
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 3, 2021
