Cuomo accuser meets with investigators for four hours

Andrew Cuomo
Photo credit New York Governor's Office

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — One of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's accusers has met with investigators working for the state attorney general's office.

In the four-hour Zoom meeting, Charlotte Bennett, 25, revealed new details about Cuomo's behavior and what she called a "sexually hostile work environment," where she said the governor made deliberate efforts to create rivalries and tension among female staffers.

Bennett's attorney, Debra Katz, in a statement said, "One piece of new information that came to light today was the governor's preoccupation with his hand size and what the large size of his hands indicated to Charlotte and other members of his staff."

The former staffer provided investigators with more than 120 pages of records and documents to corroborate her allegations that Cuomo was grooming her.

Bennett is one of a number of women who have accused Cuomo of workplace harassment. Some have said Cuomo demeaned them with pet nicknames or objectifying remarks about their appearance, subjected them to unwanted kisses and touches or asked them about their sex lives. A few, including Bennett, said they believed the governor was probing their interest in a sexual relationship.

Cuomo also faces an allegation that he groped a female staff member under her shirt after summoning her to the governor's mansion in Albany late last year.

Another accuser, Karen Hinton, told WNYC about an inappropriate hug from the governor when she worked for him as a press aide more than two decades ago.

"He approached me, embraced me, too tightly, too long and was aroused," Hinton said. "I felt extremely uncomfortable and actually shocked by it."

The governor has denied the accusations and said he'll "fully cooperate" with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Westchester County Executive George Latimer is weighing in on the allegations saying he has faith in State Attorney General Letitia James and the independent investigation.

"I have faith that she will supervise a professional review in as prompt a timeframe as possible," Latimer said.

On Monday, Cuomo appeared at a COVID-19 vaccination site on Long Island where there was no mention of the widening sexual harassment scandal and no questions allowed from reporters.

Cuomo has insisted he won't let himself be distracted and he won't resign, despite growing calls from political opponents and allies to do so.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: New York Governor's Office