NY governor sorry for claims of sexual harassment
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Embattled New York governor Andrew Cuomo said on Sunday he was 鈥渢ruly sorry鈥 if his conduct had ever been 鈥渕isinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation鈥 as he faced mounting pressure over sexual harassment allegations.
Cuomo has been harshly criticized, including by fellow Democrats, after former aide Charlotte Bennett told The New York Times that he sexually harassed her last year.
The allegations came just four days after ex-aide Lindsey Boylan described unwanted physical contact from Cuomo.
鈥淪ometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny ... I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business,鈥 Cuomo said in a statement. 鈥淚 now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal.鈥
He admitted some of his comments may have been 鈥渕isinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry.鈥
But he denied ever inappropriately touching or propositioning anyone.
Cuomo said he had called for an independent review into the allegations.
He had earlier chosen former federal judge Barbara Jones to lead a probe.
However, high-profile figures in his own Democratic Party said that was insufficiently transparent.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent young liberal lawmaker, tweeted that the 鈥渄etailed accounts鈥 of Cuomo鈥檚 accusers 鈥渁re extremely serious and painful to read.鈥
According to the 25-year-old, Bennett, Cuomo, who is 63, said in June that he was open to dating women in their 20s.
And he asked her if she thought age made a difference in romantic relationships, the Times reported.
While Cuomo never tried to touch her, 鈥淚 understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,鈥 she said.
Cuomo became a national figure last spring with his straight-talking yet empathetic coronavirus briefings.
They fueled speculation that President Joe Biden 鈥 then a candidate 鈥 might consider him as a running mate.
On Wednesday, Boylan said in a blog that Cuomo had harassed her when she was working for his administration, from 2015 to 2018.
Boylan, 36, alleged that the governor had given her an unsolicited kiss on the lips and suggested that they play strip poker.
And he went 鈥渙ut of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs.鈥
鈥淓very woman should be heard, should be treated with respect and with dignity,鈥 said Jen Psaki, spokesperson for President Joe Biden.
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