Investigators from the New York state attorney general’s office are expected to interview Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) on Saturday as part of the ongoing inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations against him, according to two people familiar with the case who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.
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The questioning would come months after several of Cuomo’s former aides and employees accused him of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior. One former aide to the governor, Charlotte Bennett, told the New York Times that he asked her invasive personal questions that she interpreted as sexual advances. Another former aide, Lindsey Boylan, detailed allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomo spanning several years.
Cuomo has apologized if anything he said may “have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation” but has denied ever inappropriately touching or propositioning anyone in his office.
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After mounting political pressure and calls for him to resign, Cuomo in February reversed course and said he would refer an investigation of the accusations against him to New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). He has refused to resign despite uproar from both Democrats and Republicans, including a majority of his state’s congressional delegation.
A representative for James declined to comment Thursday. A spokesman for Cuomo said the latest developments suggested the inquiry was politically motivated.
“We have said repeatedly that the Governor doesn’t want to comment on this review until he has cooperated, but the continued leaks are more evidence of the transparent political motivation of the Attorney General’s review,” Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said in a statement.
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Debra Katz, an attorney for Bennett, said Saturday’s interview means the governor will not be able to deflect questions or “play with words.”
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Cuomo “has also demonstrated a jaw dropping ignorance of the sexual harassment law he signed into effect — without great fanfare — suggesting that his behavior is fine because he never meant to make women feel uncomfortable,” Katz said in a statement. “Will he admit to his inappropriate behavior, or will he continue his ridiculous lies and victim blaming? Which story will he tell this time?”
James’s investigation into Cuomo’s workplace conduct comes amid several other probes that are scrutinizing aspects of the Cuomo administration, in which at least a dozen current and former staffers have been interviewed, The Washington Post reported last month.
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