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Forbes
Forbes
Business
Jemima McEvoy, Forbes Staff

Cuomo Now Under Criminal Investigation For Sexual Misconduct In Manhattan, Albany And Westchester

Topline

The district attorneys for Manhattan, Westchester County and Albany County have all launched criminal investigations into New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) after an independent investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women, including employees in his office.

NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 24: New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo leaves a press conference about recalled Toyota cars February 24, 2010 in New York City. Cuomo, thought to be a possible candidate for New York governor, has reached an agreement with the car company to provide Toyota owners in New York with alternative transportation and other perks in the aftermath of the massive recall of Toyota automobiles. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) Getty Images

Key Facts

All three DAs have requested the evidence turned up by the New York State Attorney General’s Office, which published the findings of a five-month investigation conducted by two outside attorneys into Cuomo on Tuesday morning. 

Albany County DA David Soares announced his office would launch a criminal inquiry into the governor just hours after the bombshell report was made public, imploring “any victim to contact our office with additional information.” 

The top prosecutors of Westchester County and Manhattan followed suit on Wednesday, with Westchester DA Mimi Rocah, in a letter first reported by NBC News, alerting James to her plan to probe whether the alleged misconduct that occurred in her jurisdiction was “criminal in nature.” 

A spokesperson for Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance confirmed a similar inquiry “pertaining to incidents that occurred in Manhattan.”

Crucial Quote 

“When our office learned yesterday that [New York State Attorney General Letitia James’s] investigation of the governor’s conduct was complete, our office contacted the A.G.’s office to begin requesting investigative materials in their possession,” Manhattan DA spokesperson Danny Frost wrote in a tweet Wednesday.

Key Background 

While Cuomo has continued to deny the allegations, the state attorney general’s investigation, whose findings were summarized in a 165-page report, corroborated claims of sexual harassment from 11 different women, including current and former employees. Cuomo harassed these women by “engaging in unwelcome and non-consensual touching and making numerous comments of a suggestive and sexual nature that created a hostile work environment for women,” James, a Democrat, announced at a Tuesday morning press conference. One of the investigators also said his team found some women “suffered through unwanted touching and grabbing of their most intimate body parts.” 

Chief Critic 

“I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances ... that is just not who I am and that’s not who I ever have been,” Cuomo said in a response to the report Tuesday afternoon. 

Tangent 

Cuomo, who has seen his approval ratings sink over the past few months, is also being investigated by federal prosecutors for his administration’s handling of coronavirus-linked deaths in nursing homes.

Further Reading 

“Cuomo Sexually Harassed ‘Multiple Women’ In Violation Of State And Federal Law, NY Attorney General Finds” (Forbes)

“Cuomo Denies Sexually Harassing Women, Says Attorney General’s Bombshell Investigation Is Wrong” (Forbes)

“Cuomo Is Losing Allies Quickly, But Shows No Sign Of Resigning—Here’s What Could Happen Next” (Forbes)

“Who Is Kathy Hochul, The Lieutenant Gov. First In Line To Succeed Andrew Cuomo?” (Forbes)

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