An investigation found that Gov. Andrew Cuomo harassed multiple women inside and outside state government and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers, New York’s attorney general announced Tuesday in a finding that is certain to renew calls for the Democrat’s resignation or impeachment. The nearly five-month investigation, conducted by two outside lawyers who spoke to 179 people, found that the Cuomo administration was a “hostile work environment” and that it was “rife with fear and intimidation.” People interviewed included complainants, current and former members of the executive chamber, State troopers, additional state employees and others who interacted regularly with the governor. “These interviews and pieces of evidence revealed a deeply disturbing yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo harassed current and former state employees in violation of federal and state laws,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a press conference on Tuesday. James said her investigation has concluded. There were no referrals to criminal prosecutors, though that wouldn’t preclude local authorities from using the evidence and findings of the report to mount their own cases. Should disgrace NY Gov Cuomo resign today? — NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) August 3, 2021 On at least one occasion, the investigation found, Cuomo and his senior staff worked to retaliate against a former employee who accused him of wrongdoing. Cuomo was also found to have harassed women outside of government, the investigation found. The report also detailed, for the first time, allegations that Cuomo harassed a female state trooper on his security detail. “These brave women stepped forward to speak truth to power and, in doing so, they expressed faith in the belief that although the governor may be powerful, the truth is even more so,” Joon Kim, one of the lawyers leading the investigation, said at the press conference. CUOMO DOUBLES DOWN: "I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances…That is just not who I am and that's not who I have ever been." pic.twitter.com/BvvY95mgRd — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 3, 2021 Investigators said they found all 11 women were credible, noting that their allegations were corroborated to varying degrees, including by other witnesses and contemporaneous text messages. Cuomo faced multiple allegations last winter that he inappropriately harassed women who worked with him or who he met at public events. Last winter there was a chorus of calls for Cuomo’s resignation from many top elected Democrats in New York, including two U.S. senators, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. But Cuomo refused to quit and has been raising money for a fourth term in office. His position on the allegations has also hardened into one of defiance. Cuomo has always denied inappropriate behavior, but he initially said he was sorry if his behavior with women was “misinterpreted.” In recent months, he’s taken a more combative tack, saying he did nothing wrong and questioning the motives of accusers and critics. He has also questioned the neutrality of the lawyers hired by the attorney general to investigate the allegations. Kim, was involved in previous investigations of corruption by people in Cuomo’s administration when he was a federal prosecutor in Manhattan. Cuomo hasn’t expressly said why he believes that would make Kim biased. In the hours leading into James’ announcement, Cuomo’s office issued numerous press releases including the completion of mixed-use housing in Buffalo plans […]
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