New York
Report: Four women who have accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct have been subpoenaed
ALBANY, N.Y. — Four women who have accused Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment and misconduct have received subpoenas to testify under oath, according to The New York Times.
Charlotte Bennett, a former Cuomo aide, is one of the four accusers that will be testifying in the next two weeks.
Charlotte Bennett, a former Cuomo aide, is one of the four accusers that will be testifying in the next two weeks.
Bennett stepped forward with accusations the governor asked questions about her sex life and whether she would have sex with older men. In March, Bennett sat with investigators for more than four hours of preliminary interviews and provided 120 pages of records to corroborate her accusations, according to her lawyer Debra Katz.
According to New York Times, the other accusers include a female staff member who accused Cuomo of groping her in the Executive Mansion in Albany and Lindsey Boylan.
Lindsey Boylan, a former aide, claims the governor harassed her several times going back to 2017, including one instance where he kissed her on the lips.
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoings in relation to allegations of workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and ethical misconduct.
On Thursday, Cuomo made a controversial statement saying “harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable. That is not harassment. If I just made you feel uncomfortable, that is not harassment, that’s you feeling uncomfortable.”
Many were upset by the statement and turned to New York State law.
The Sexual Harassment Working Group said, “Just because you believe you can’t make anyone ‘feel’ harassed by your actions, doesn’t make it legally true.”
The New York’s Equal Employment Opportunity Rights and Responsibilities Handbook defines sexual harassment as:
“Actions that may constitute sexual harassment based upon a hostile work environment may include but are not limited to, words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation or physical violence which are of a sexual nature, or which are directed at an individual because of that individual’s sex. Sexual harassment also consists of any unwanted verbal or physical advances, sexually explicit derogatory statements, or sexually discriminatory remarks made by someone which are offensive or objectionable to the recipient, which cause the recipient discomfort or humiliation, or which interfere with the recipient’s job performance.”
At this time, there is no set date on when the Attorney General’s Office will release its finding of the investigation. However, a person of knowledge of the investigation told The New York Times that the investigation should be completed by the end of summer.
According to New York Times, the other accusers include a female staff member who accused Cuomo of groping her in the Executive Mansion in Albany and Lindsey Boylan.
Lindsey Boylan, a former aide, claims the governor harassed her several times going back to 2017, including one instance where he kissed her on the lips.
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoings in relation to allegations of workplace misconduct, sexual harassment, and ethical misconduct.
On Thursday, Cuomo made a controversial statement saying “harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable. That is not harassment. If I just made you feel uncomfortable, that is not harassment, that’s you feeling uncomfortable.”
Many were upset by the statement and turned to New York State law.
The Sexual Harassment Working Group said, “Just because you believe you can’t make anyone ‘feel’ harassed by your actions, doesn’t make it legally true.”
The New York’s Equal Employment Opportunity Rights and Responsibilities Handbook defines sexual harassment as:
“Actions that may constitute sexual harassment based upon a hostile work environment may include but are not limited to, words, signs, jokes, pranks, intimidation or physical violence which are of a sexual nature, or which are directed at an individual because of that individual’s sex. Sexual harassment also consists of any unwanted verbal or physical advances, sexually explicit derogatory statements, or sexually discriminatory remarks made by someone which are offensive or objectionable to the recipient, which cause the recipient discomfort or humiliation, or which interfere with the recipient’s job performance.”
At this time, there is no set date on when the Attorney General’s Office will release its finding of the investigation. However, a person of knowledge of the investigation told The New York Times that the investigation should be completed by the end of summer.
