ALBANY, N.Y. — An “embarrassed” Gov. Andrew Cuomo choked up Wednesday as he addressed sexual harassment claims made against him and resisted calls for his resignation.
The governor addressed the mounting accusations for the first time during a remote briefing from the state Capitol, apologizing for acting “in a way that made people feel uncomfortable” and saying he “never touched anyone inappropriately.”
Cuomo said he is embarrassed” by the allegations, but pleaded with New Yorkers to hold off on forming an opinion on the matter until the conclusion of a just begun probe being conducted by Attorney General Letitia James.
He added that he “never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable,” “learned an important lesson,” and “will be the better for this experience.”
The embattled governor, whose briefings were considered must-see TV for much of the COVID-19 crisis, had not taken questions from the media in over a week as his administration became embroiled in multiple scandals.
The appearance and mea culpa, which he said was made against the advice of his lawyers, came as lawmakers and critics call for his removal over the misconduct allegations and uproar over the administration’s withholding of data related to the number of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19.
James is leading an investigation into Cuomo’s workplace conduct after former aide Charlotte Bennett, 25, said the governor questioned her about her sex life and asked whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man.
Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, said Cuomo kissed her without her consent during a meeting at his Manhattan office and accused the state’s most powerful Democrat of creating a toxic workplace.
Cuomo has denied Boylan’s allegations and apologized for his behavior with Bennett, claiming he’d been trying to be “playful” and that his jokes had been misinterpreted as flirting.
Another woman, Anna Ruch, come forward with claims, and photos, Monday alleging that Cuomo made her uncomfortable when he touched her and asked to kiss her at a September 2019 wedding.
Cuomo, who repeatedly stressed that he “never touched anyone inappropriately,” on Wednesday, said the awkward photo just shows his “customary” way of greeting people.
“You can find hundreds of pictures of me making the same gesture with hundreds of people, women, men, children, etc.,” he said. “You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people. Men, women, it is my usual and customary way of greeting.”
The Democratic governor chalked up growing calls for his resignation to politics as Republicans and Democrats alike have said Cuomo should step down.
“I’m not going to resign,” he said. “I work for the people of the state of New York. They elected me.”
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