Protesters gather in front of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's office
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in his first public briefing since a string of sexual harassment allegations were made against him, apologised to the women but said he had no plans to resign.
A solemn-looking Mr Cuomo addressed the allegations after a week-long absence, saying he was “embarrassed” and regretful of some of his past behaviour with women.
“I fully support a woman’s right to come forward and I think it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I was acting in a way that made people feel uncomfortable,” he said in a press conference from Albany, New York. “It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologise for it,” the 63-year-old Democrat said.
Asked a question about a photograph which showed him holding accuser Anna Ruch at a wedding in 2019, Mr Cuomo replied: “I understand the feelings of Ms Ruch. You can find hundreds of pictures of me making the same gesture with hundreds of people: women, men, children. You can find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people, it’s my customary way of greeting.
Anna Ruch, 33, is the third woman to allege the three-term governor acted inappropriately towards her.
Credit: NYT
"I feel awful about it and frankly I am embarrassed by it, and that’s not easy to say but that’s the truth. I want you to know, I never touched anyone inappropriately. I never knew at the time I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. I certainly never ever meant to offend anyone, or cause anyone any pain. I have learned from this incredibly difficult situation."
Ms Ruch, 33, was the third woman to allege the three-term governor acted inappropriately towards her.
She told the New York Times that Mr Cuomo approached her during a crowded wedding reception in 2019, alleging that he put his hand on her bare lower back, which was exposed in an open-back dress.
When Ms Ruch removed his hand, the governor allegedly told her she seemed "aggressive" as he put his hands on her cheeks and asked if he could kiss her.
Lindsey Boylan, a former aide of Mr Cuomo’s, accused the governor of kissing her on the lips during a meeting in his office, and of more generally creating a “toxic” working environment for women.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference, giving in his first public comments on the sexual harassment allegations
Credit: Office of the N.Y. Governor
Another, Charlotte Bennett, 25, said he quizzed her about her sex life and asked whether she would be open to a relationship with an older man. Ms Bennett rejected Mr Cuomo’s attempted apology, in which he said he’d been trying to be “playful” and that his jokes had been misinterpreted as flirting.
“What I also understand now,” Mr Cuomo went on, “is that it doesn’t matter what my intent was, but if anyone was offended by it. If they were offended by it, or hurt by it, then I apologise.
“I understand sensitivities change, behaviours change and I’m going to learn from it. I will be the better for this experience.”
He urged people to wait until the findings of the investigations launched earlier this week by Letitia James, New York State’s Attorney General.
"I wasn’t elected by politicians. I was elected by the people of New York. I’m not going to resign. They elected me," Mr Cuomo stated. “The facts will come out in the attorney general’s review.”
The Democrat, who had been tipped as the favourite for the party nominee for the 2024 election, is facing mounting calls to step down.
Lawmakers have also sought to check Mr Cuomo’s power after officials began investigating whether his administration covered up a number of Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes in the early days of the pandemic.
New York state lawmakers on Tuesday reached an agreement to strip him of his pandemic-related emergency powers.
It would immediately repeal the powers granted to the governor last March to control the state response to the coronavirus.
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