A publicly disclosed agreement between the Justice Department and the New York State Executive Chamber on Friday has brought resolution to allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation against former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. The agreement concludes that Cuomo was responsible for creating a “sexually hostile work environment” for at least 13 female government employees.
In 2021, New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report outlining the accusations against Cuomo.
The report, based on an independent investigation, stated that Cuomo had “harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging, and by making inappropriate comments.”
DOJ Settlement Affirms Andrew Cuomo’s Establishment of a “Sexually Hostile Work Environment” (Credits: Huffpost)
Cuomo denied these allegations, stating, “I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old, I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am, and that is not who I have ever been.” Subsequently, Cuomo resigned in August of the same year.
In the latest development, the DOJ’s report details that “Governor Cuomo repeatedly subjected these female employees to unwelcome, non-consensual sexual contact; ogling; unwelcome sexual comments; gender-based nicknames; comments on their physical appearances; and/or preferential treatment based on their physical appearances.”
Responding to the report’s conclusion, Rich Azzopardi, a spokesperson for Cuomo, countered, stating that the Justice Department’s work “isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on.”
