Gov. Cuomo apologizes but says he won’t resign [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo rebuked on Wednesday all the sexual allegations claimed against him, saying that he never ‘appropriately’ touched anyone.
• Cuomo said that kissing and touching were his ways of greeting people.
• Cuomo said that he won’t resign but will fully cooperate with Attorney General Letitia James’ investigation.

For the first time since his sexual harassment allegations emerged, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) led a press conference on Wednesday, denying the claims made against him.

Cuomo said that he never, in any way, ‘inappropriately’ touched anyone as he repeatedly apologized in an emotional press briefing. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said.

The governor made a public appearance to address the controversy a week after remaining silent. Cuomo was emotional, remorseful, and in a crying tone in several moments. He confessed that he was not aware of distressing the women he was working with, such as former aide Charlotte Bennett.

“I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it and, frankly, I am embarrassed by it,” Cuomo said.

Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan accused Cuomo of kissing her and asking her to play strip poker. In response to the governor’s public statements, she said: “How can New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo to lead our state if you ‘don’t know’ when you’ve been inappropriate with your own staff?”

Bennett, who alleged that the governor made her feel like he wanted to sleep with her based on his ‘inappropriate’ questions, also rebuked Cuomo’s apology.

In a statement, Bennett’s legal counsel Debra Katz said: “The governor’s press conference was full of falsehoods and inaccurate information, and New Yorkers deserve better. The governor repeatedly said he had no idea he made anyone uncomfortable. My client, Charlotte Bennett, reported his sexually harassing behavior immediately to his chief of staff and chief counsel. We are confident that they made him aware of her complaint.”

Third accuser Anna Ruch also alleged that Cuomo attempted to kiss her during the 2019 wedding of Gareth Rhodes, the governor’s top aide. A photo went viral online showing the governor touching Ruch’s face.

In defense, Cuomo said that kissing and touching people were his ways of reaching out as the pictures obtained by CBS2 showed him with his hands on people’s heads.

“You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people … It is my usual and customary way of greeting,” he said. “However, what I also understand … is it doesn’t matter … What matters is if anybody was offended, if they were hurt by it, I apologize. If they feel pain, I did not intend it.”

While emphasizing that he won’t step down in office, the governor said that he will “fully cooperate” with the ongoing investigation by Attorney General Letitia James. Per CBS2, he also urged the residents to refrain from judging him until the probe is done.

Source: CBS New York