Andrew Cuomo Says He Won't Resign Over Sexual Harassment Allegations

As calls for Andrew Cuomo resignation rise the New York governor makes his intentions to stay put clear: On Wednesday, NY Governor Andrew Cuomo said that while he was "embarrassed" and "ashamed" over the allegations of sexual harassment against him, he would not resign. So far, three women, including two former aides, have accused Cuomo of sexual harassment.

Rejecting calls for his resignation in the face of sexual harassment allegations, the 63-year-old said, "I'm not going to resign. I'm going to do the job that the people of the state elected me to do."

"I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable, and I truly and deeply apologize for it," Cuomo stated, adding, "And frankly, I am embarrassed by it. And that's not easy to say, but that's the truth."

When asked about calls for him to step aside, the third-time governor said, “I wasn’t elected by politicians, I was elected by the people of the state of New York. I’m not going to resign.”

Earlier, Cuomo had apologised for his actions and behaviour toward his staff and said that it may have been “insensitive”. In a statement last week, Cuomo went on to suggest that the women, his two former aides, who accused him of sexual harassment, had “misinterpreted” him. He then formally referred himself for investigation. He also said he was “truly sorry” if his conduct had ever been “misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”

Two former staffers have accused Cuomo of unwanted sexual advances. Lindsey Boylan, a former special adviser to the governor, had accused him of creating a toxic workplace culture that includes bullying and sexual harassment, saying that she resigned in 2018 after he kissed her during a meeting without consent.

Following that, a second ex-employee accused Cuomo of sexual harassment on February 27. Charlotte Bennett, who previously worked as a health policy adviser in the Democratic governor’s administration until November, said that the Governor asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life. The third woman, Anna Ruch said that Cuomo had made unwanted advances at her and “asked if he could kiss her” during a wedding reception in New York City in September 2019.

Feature Image Credit: Jodi Kantor/Twitter