Defiant Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed on Sunday that “there is no question” that he will resign over allegations of sexual harassment now brought against him by five women – he waved calls for his resignation as prompted by “politics”.
“I was chosen by the people of the state. I was not elected by politicians, ”Cuomo said during a short conference call with reporters. “I’m not going to step down on charges.”
The governor spoke a day after two more former staffers, Ana Liss and Karen Hinton, accused him of inappropriate behavior, including inappropriate physical contact. contributing to past allegations made by fellow ex-assistants Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett, as well as Anna Ruch.
“The premise of resigning because of allegations is actually anti-democratic,” said Cuomo. “Everyone has the opportunity to make an allegation in a democracy and that’s great. But it is in the credibility of the allegation. “
A “shamed” Cuomo offered a conditional apology last week “as [his accusers] were offended ”by his comments, while vehemently denying allegations of inappropriate physical contact.
Cuomo on Sunday characterized Hinton as an “old political adversary of mine” and claimed that her claim to the Washington Post that he seized her in a dimly lit hotel room on a trip to Los Angeles in 2000 was “untrue”.
“Mrs. Hinton, every woman has the right to come forward. That’s true,” said Cuomo. “But the truth also matters. What she said is not true.
“As anyone who has been involved in New York politics at any level knows, she has been a political opponent of mine for a long time, very critical for many, many years and has made many, many accusations,” said Cuomo.
At the time when Cuomo had allegedly understood Hinton in a way she described as “very tall, too tall, too tight, too intimate,” he was serving as head of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.
She went on to serve as a spokeswoman for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, a frequent political rival to Cuomo, and last month she was one of many people in the New York political landscape who spoke out against the alleged pattern of ‘bullying ‘from the governor. behaviour.
When asked about Liss’s claim that he had asked her inappropriate questions about her dating life, Cuomo said only that he was engaged in “ friendly banter. ”
As for Liss’ who cited a photo taken at a reception in 2014 showing the governor holding his hand around her waist, Cuomo said he’d posed for photos over the years with hundreds of people, both men and women.
“We take pictures with people. If you like the photo, frame it and put it on your desk, ”said Cuomo. “If you don’t like the photo, throw it in the trash. That’s right.
“I never meant for anyone to feel unwelcome in any way.”
When asked if he accused the women of lying about the experiences, Cuomo gave a seemingly contradictory answer.
“No,” he said. “I just said that what Karen Hinton said was not true.”
The third-term Democrat said demands for his resignation – coming from both sides of the political aisle – are motivated by politics, a statement he previously offered in response to bipartisan calls for an investigation into his government’s handling. with the corona virus in nursing. houses.
“There is politics in politics,” he said with a laugh.
“I have political differences of opinion with people. I have political disagreements with Republicans. I have political disagreements with Sen. [Alessandra] Biaggi, ”Cuomo continued, referring to the democratic state legislature who called for the governor to resign.
“But they don’t ignore the will of the people,” he said. “They have no precedence over elections.”
Cuomo argued in favor of allegations being investigated privately until substantiated, and suggested that Biaggi would not like to litigate allegations publicly.
If that’s what Senator Biaggi wants to do, let’s let go of all allegations from JCOPE [the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics] and the attorney general and the prosecutors have about senate members, and then let’s put them in the public arena, and then let’s make a public decision… should this allegation induce anyone to resign, ”said Cuomo. “That’s absurd.”
Cuomo insisted that he did not resign. “That’s democracy,” he said, referring to due process and conducting investigations, such as those of Attorney General Letitia James, run their course. “There is no way I can resign.”