NEW YORK (WBEN) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo's first accuser is sharing more details about allegations of sexual misconduct and a toxic working environment in an interview with Ronan Farrow for The New Yorker.
Lindsey Boylan, a former special adviser to the governor, claims Cuomo made a crude joke about what he would do to her if he were his Siberian-Shepherd-Malamute mix, named Captain, after the dog jumped up and down in the former aide's presence.
The 36-year-old told The New Yorker that Cuomo said to her that if he were a dog, he would try to "mount" her as well.
“I remember being grossed out but also, like, what a dumb third-grade thing to say,” Boylan said. “I just shrugged it off.”
The New Yorker reports a spokesperson for Cuomo declined to comment specifically on the claim, but reiterated the governor's denial that he behaved inappropriately with Boylan.
Boylan claims the governor also made fun of a female staffer's haircut, leaving her in tears, and chided a male aide about his weight.
Boylan also alleges that she once spotted a dartboard at the governor's mansion with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's face on it. The two are longtime rivals.
A spokesman for the governor declined to comment to the New Yorker about the existence of the dartboard.
Last month, in a post written on the website Medium, Boylan said the governor subjected her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments, including joking that they should play strip poker.
Cuomo this week has mostly dodged questions from reporters about the allegations, including one of groping, that have been lodged by multiple women, even as more stories emerge about the inner workings of his office.
Cuomo has taken all of four questions from reporters this week, instead choosing to hold events closed to the press, but the constant drip of stories continues.
The New York Times this week detailed a campaign in the governor's office to discredit his first accuser, Boylan.
"It serves to scare other people away, other people that might be victims from coming forward, but also what it does is it chains that victim into either being afraid to continue with their story or essentially making it so other people won't believe them," said Elias Farah of Albany Sexual Harassment Working Group. "It's just so common, that's the first tactic that people pretty much go to is shame the victim."
The Albany Times Union also reported Cuomo's office is offering an attorney to accompany witnesses testifying as part of the attorney general's investigation.
Farah said it reminds him of a mob tactic.
"A witness can't be completely honest and candid when somebody who might report back to one of their superiors is literally sitting there watching what they testify to," Farah said. "I don't think in any other venue could you supply a person to essentially escort a witness, I would equate it to like a mob-style tactic."
The governor is continuing to hold his ground, responding to calls for his resignation by asking for due process.
Cuomo has denied inappropriately touching anyone, but he has said he is sorry if he made anyone uncomfortable and didn’t intend to do so.