NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected leaders in New York reacted to new accusations of sexual harassment against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, with some voicing their support for an independent investigation or even calling for his ouster.
Charlotte Bennett, a health policy adviser in the Democratic governor's administration until November, told The New York Times Cuomo asked her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she ever had sex with older men.
Responding to the allegations, Cuomo said, “I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.”
However, the governor said he had authorized an outside review of Bennett's allegations. The governor's special counsel, Beth Garvey, said that review would be conducted by a former federal judge, Barbara Jones.
Amid mounting pressure from elected leaders, Cuomo’s office said Sunday that it had asked Attorney General Letitia James and the Court of Appeals to “jointly select an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a thorough review of the matter and issue a public report.”
Leaders from both sides of the political aisle have responded to the allegations. Mayor Bill de Blasio called on the Legislature to immediately revoke the governor's emergency powers and also called for an independent investigation.
"New Yorkers have seen detailed, documented accounts of sexual harassment, multiple instances of intimidation, and the admitted withholding of information on the deaths of over 15,000 people," de Blasio said. "Questions of this magnitude cannot hang over the heads of New Yorkers as we fight off a pandemic and economic crisis. It’s clear what must now take place."
"The State legislature must immediately revoke the Governor’s emergency powers that overrule local control. In addition, two fully independent investigations must be held immediately into the deaths at nursing homes and the disturbing personal misconduct allegations," de Blasio said.
Many top Democrats in the state called for an independent review, including Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Everyone deserves to have their voice heard and taken seriously,” Hochul said.
“As I previously stated, all allegations of harassment must be taken seriously. A truly independent investigation is warranted,” Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said in a statement.
“The continued allegations are deeply disturbing and concerning,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “The behavior described has no place in the workplace. A truly independent investigation must begin immediately.”
Some elected leaders, including Democratic state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, called for Cuomo to resign.
“@NYGovCuomo, you are a monster, and it is time for you to go. Now,” Biaggi tweeted.
Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou tweeted that “our governor is a manipulative, controlling, abusive, power obsessed, predator. Please resign.”
Assemblymember Harvey Epstein tweeted, “If we do not act now, we become complicit in his actions. With this in mind, I am joining the call for Governor Andrew Cuomo to resign.”
Reps. Antonio Delgado, Jerry Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kathleen Rice, all Democrats, called for an independent investigation.
“There must be an independent investigation - not one led by an individual selected by the Governor, but by the office of the Attorney General,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
Nadler called the allegations “deeply troubling,” while Delgado said they were “serious and credible.”
“This is no joke. There must be an independent investigation into these allegations,” Rice tweeted. “The accused CANNOT appoint the investigator. PERIOD.”
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, who is running for mayor, called on Cuomo to resign if an independent investigation “supports these serious and credible allegations.”
Mayoral candidates Andrew Yang and Maya Wiley also called for an independent investigation, while candidate Carlos Menchaca called on Cuomo to resign.
In a statement, Republican state senators Pam Helming, Daphne Jordan, Patty Ritchie, Sue Serino and Alexis Weik wrote: “His alleged predatory actions are egregious and if the account is accurate, they have crossed the line. Within a single week, two brave individuals have come forward to share their stories of working for this man.”
“Gov. Cuomo now more than ever must be investigated,” the senators said.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Republican, criticized Cuomo for announcing his own independent review.
“Criminal sexual predators do NOT get to announce their own ‘review,’” Stefanik tweeted. “Criminal sexual predators do NOT get to appoint who conducts the ‘investigation.’”
“Cuomo’s gotta go NOW,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican, tweeted. Rep. Lee Zeldin wrote on Twitter, "Even Cuomo himself must know it’s time to go."
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