NEW YORK, (Reuters) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo yesterday said he would not resign in the wake of a series of sexual misconduct accusations leveled against him by young women but offered a fresh apology and vowed to “fully cooperate” with a review by the state’s attorney general.
“I am not going to resign,” Cuomo told a news conference after he offered an emotional apology for what he said was behavior that made “people feel uncomfortable.”
“I feel awful about it and frankly I am embarrassed by it,” said the Democratic governor, who has also contended with allegations in recent weeks that his administration sought to downplay the number of elderly nursing home residents killed by COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Cuomo said his behavior toward the women who have accused him of misconduct was unintentional and maintained that he never touched anyone inappropriately. Even so, he acknowledged that it is “custom” for him to kiss and hug people when greeting them.
“I understand that sensitivities have changed and behavior has changed and I get it, and I’m going to learn from it,” he said.
Three women, including two former aides, have come forward recently to say that Cuomo had sexually harassed them or made inappropriate remarks. Lindsey Boylan, who first came forward in December, said the unwanted advances included an unsolicited kiss on the lips in Cuomo’s New York City office, which Cuomo denied.
Boylan, a candidate for Manhattan borough president, dismissed the governor’s apology in a Twitter message on Wednesday. “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?” she wrote.
