An anti-sexual harassment group made up of former state legislative staff called on Governor Cuomo to resign Saturday in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him.
“ENOUGH. New York State has now lost the talents and ambition of yet another woman, whose safety and integrity were eliminated to serve the desires of a powerful man. Andrew Cuomo must now resign,” the sexual harassment task force said in a statement statement, after ex-Cuomo assistant, Charlotte Bennett, accused the governor of inappropriate behavior towards her last year.
Bennett, 25, told The New York Times that Cuomo, 63, complained to her that she was “ lonely ” and that she couldn’t hug anyone during the pandemic, before hitting her on who she hugged last.
When she revealed her own history of sexual assault to Cuomo, Bennett claimed his response was “something out of a horror movie,” the paper reported.
Cuomo reportedly kept repeating to Bennett, “‘You were raped and abused and assaulted and attacked and betrayed’, over and over while looking me in the eye … It was like he was testing me,” she told a friend in a text message. message that was viewed by The Times.
Earlier this week, the sexual harassment task force had called for an investigation into the governor after another former employee, Lindsey Boylan, accused him of kissing her on the mouth and suggesting a game of ‘strip poker’.
“There should be an immediate independent investigation into Governor Cuomo’s behavior in the workplace, conducted by an entity over which Cuomo has no nomination or oversight powers,” the group tweeted hours after Boylan came forward.
In Saturday’s statement, the group – which was made up of seven former Albany staffers who said they were harassed by ex-Assembly members Vito Lopez and Micah Kellner, among others – spoke words of encouragement to Bennett.
“To Charlotte: We send you our strength, support and shared anger for the abuse you endured,” the group wrote. “You did something incredibly difficult by becoming another vital link in a powerful chain to create an Albany without harassment. This is not something anyone is asking for, but we are proud of you. “