Two More Women Allege Inappropriate Conduct by Andrew Cuomo

Two additional women have stepped forward with allegations of inappropriate behavior against Governor Andrew Cuomo, bringing the total number of accusers to four former aides and one woman who encountered Cuomo at a wedding. Their testimonies, published in the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, echo previous claims made by former aides Charlotte Bennett and Lindsey Boylan.

Ana Liss’s Account

Ana Liss, who worked as a policy and operations aide for Cuomo from 2013 to 2015, recounted that Cuomo inquired about her relationship status, referred to her as “sweetheart,” and touched her lower back. She also described an instance where he kissed her hand as she was rising from her desk.

Karen Hinton’s Experience

Karen Hinton, a former press aide, detailed an encounter from the year 2000 when Cuomo, then heading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, invited her to his hotel room and embraced her after a work event. Despite her efforts to pull away, she stated that Cuomo held her close before she managed to leave his room. “It was inappropriate. We both were married. I worked for him and it was too much to make it so personal and intimate,” she explained in an interview with NBC New York.

Previous Allegations

These allegations follow earlier claims from Charlotte Bennett, a 25-year-old ex-staffer who alleged that Cuomo discussed his openness to relationships with younger women, and Lindsey Boylan, who accused him of kissing her in his office in 2018. Boylan further described instances in which Cuomo invited her to play strip poker on a government flight and made comments comparing her appearance to another woman.

Perception of Behavior

Liss initially perceived Cuomo’s behavior as harmless flirtation but later found it diminishing and patronizing, saying it reduced her from an educated professional to merely “a skirt.”

Defending Cuomo

Rich Azzopardi, a senior adviser to Cuomo, defended the governor, stating that for 14 years, reporters have witnessed Cuomo interacting with both men and women in a similar manner during public events. Cuomo himself acknowledged the evolving standards of sensitivity around behavior, indicating his willingness to learn from the situation.

Calls for Resignation

Calls for Cuomo’s resignation have intensified, including from Rep. Elise Stefanik and other local officials. “All sexual harassment accusations should be taken seriously,” emphasized Assemblymember Pamela Hunter, reiterating the unacceptability of workplace harassment.

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In summary, two more women have come forth with allegations against Andrew Cuomo, joining other former aides who have accused him of inappropriate conduct. This has sparked calls for his resignation from various political figures, highlighting the importance of addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.