ALBANY, NY (AP) – New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked the Attorney General and Chief Judge of the Court of Appeal to jointly appoint an independent attorney to investigate allegations that he sexually assaulted at least two women who worked for him. harassed.
It was unclear whether the proposal would appease the legislative leaders and other top Democrats who had attacked Cuomo’s original plan to appoint a retired federal judge to review his workplace behavior.
“The governor’s office wants the sexual harassment claims against the governor to be impeccably reviewed,” said Beth Garvey, special counsel to the governor. “We had selected former federal judge Barbara Jones, with an excellent track record of qualifications and integrity, but we want to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence or political inference.”
Garvey said the Democratic Governor government has asked Attorney General Letitia James and Janet DiFiore, Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal, to jointly select “ an independent and qualified attorney in a private practice with no political affiliation to thoroughly investigate and investigate the case. a public report. ”
Garvey said the report would be checked solely by the attorney conducting the assessment.
The government’s proposal came almost simultaneously with a statement by James calling on Cuomo to issue an executive order giving her exclusive control over the investigation. She said such a referral would give the power to issue subpoenas, which could be enforced in court.
“There needs to be a truly independent investigation to thoroughly review these troubling allegations against the governor, and I stand ready to oversee that investigation and make any appointments,” said James. “I urge the Director to make this referral immediately.”
The plan for James and DiFiore, appointed to her position by Cuomo, to jointly elect an investigator met with a cascade of criticism from fellow Democrats who called for him to relinquish all control of the investigation to James.
Under state law, the attorney general requires a referral from the governor to investigate his conduct.
A spokesman for James called Cuomo’s idea of simply giving her a role in selecting the investigator unacceptable because that inquisitor would be unable to subpoena witnesses and documents, and would rely on voluntary cooperation.
State Senate Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senate majority leader and Democrat from a suburb of Westchester County, said through her spokesman, “We support the AG and its call for referral.”
The crisis that now envelops Cuomo’s office quickly developed after a second woman went out on Saturday with a story of harassment by the governor in the workplace.
Charlotte Bennett, a low-level assistant in the governor’s administration until November, told The New York Times that Cuomo was asking her inappropriate questions about her sex life, including whether she has ever had sex with older men.
Her charge came days after another former assistant, Lindsey Boylan, a former deputy secretary for economic development and special adviser to the governor, elaborated on the allegations of harassment she first made in December. Boylan said Cuomo subjected her to an unwanted kiss and inappropriate comments.
Cuomo, 63, said in a statement on Saturday that he planned to become a mentor to Bennett, who is 25. He has denied Boylan’s allegations.
A group of more than a dozen Democratic women in the state assembly said in a statement, “The governor’s proposal to appoint someone who is not independently elected has no subpoena and no authority for prosecution is inadequate.”
Senator Brad Hoylman, a Democrat from Manhattan, said on Twitter: “As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I think it is completely inappropriate for Chief Justice DiFiore – who was appointed by the governor and who would play a constitutional role in possible future proceedings – – to be part of the research process. “
Senator Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat from Long Island, tweeted, “The attorney general in New York would not need a referral to start a criminal investigation. This is an issue I have been working on for a while and will legislate tomorrow. “
Matthews reported from New York City.