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Cuomo under pressure to refer probe of his alleged sexual misconduct to state prosecutor

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Cuomo under pressure to refer probe of his alleged sexual misconduct to state prosecutor

By Gabriella Borter

 

2021-02-28T192102Z_1_LYNXNPEH1R0DP_RTROPTP_4_NEWYORK-CUOMO.JPG

FILE PHOTO: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference at a vaccination site in the Brooklyn borough of New York, U.S., February 22, 2021. Seth Wenig/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - New York's top prosecutor rejected a proposal by Governor Andrew Cuomo for her to pick a lawyer to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against him, after Cuomo's office backtracked on Sunday on a plan to choose its own investigator.

 

State Attorney General Letitia James said it was essential that Cuomo's administration instead formally refer the matter to her office for investigation, which would give her subpoena power and ensure an impartial probe.

 

Cuomo, one of the nation's most well-known Democratic politicians whose popularity soared during the early months of the pandemic, has been accused by two former aides of sexual misconduct, sparking criticism from fellow Democrats that ranged from calls for his resignation to appeals for an independent investigation into his behavior.

 

Responding to the latest allegations that emerged on Saturday, the governor denied making any sexual advances and initially ordered what he said would be a "full and thorough outside review" led by a former federal judge, Barbara Jones.

 

But following sharp rebukes from Democrats, Cuomo reversed that decision on Sunday and said he had asked James and Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, to select an independent lawyer to conduct a thorough review and issue a public report.

 

James said instead that the governor needed to make an official referral to her office under the state's executive law. Only a referral could enable "an investigation with real teeth," a spokesman for James said.

 

"To clarify, I do not accept the governor's proposal," James said in a statement. "The governor must provide this referral so an independent investigation with subpoena power can be conducted."

 

A representative for Cuomo did not immediately comment on the attorney general's request for a referral.

 

'PAINFUL TO READ'

The choice by Cuomo's office of a former judge to lead the investigation had failed to satisfy leading Democratic figures including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who said she found the accounts of Cuomo's former aides Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett "extremely serious and painful to read."

 

There were also demands for an independent probe from several other Democrats. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told CNN's State of the Union that President Joe Biden supported such an investigation. Others, including New York State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and New York City Councilman Carlos Menchaca, went further, echoing Republican calls for Cuomo to resign.

 

In the latest misconduct allegations, Bennett, who worked for the governor as an executive assistant and policy advisor for nearly two years until November 2020, told the New York Times that he had asked her about her sex life, including whether she was monogamous in her relationships and if she had ever had sex with older men.

 

Her account was published days after Boylan, another former aide, wrote in an online essay that the governor made several "inappropriate gestures" toward her while she worked for the state government from 2015 to 2018, including sending her a rose on Valentine's Day and kissing her on the mouth.

 

Cuomo has denied wrongdoing in both cases. Reuters could not independently verify the women's accounts. Attempts to reach both women have been unsuccessful.

 

Cuomo rose to national prominence for his daily televised briefings early on during the coronavirus pandemic, when New York was the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States.

 

The allegations of sexual misconduct follow a report issued in January by James' office that cast doubt on his administration's handling of the coronavirus crisis in nursing homes. It said the state health department significantly undercounted the death toll and implemented policies that may have contributed to it.

 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday that there now needed to be two independent investigations, one into Cuomo's conduct and another into the nursing home deaths.

 

"Questions of this magnitude cannot hang over the heads of New Yorkers as we fight off a pandemic and economic crisis," de Blasio said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Daniel Wallis)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-03-01
 
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Tug Ruby Member

Tug

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Well let’s investigate it then see if it’s true or just some lady that got her feelings hurt I’m not aware of gov.cumo having a reputation of beeing a womanizer so let’s give everyone the benefit of the doubt and investigate 

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cmarshall Gold Member

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4 minutes ago, Tug said:

Well let’s investigate it then see if it’s true or just some lady that got her feelings hurt I’m not aware of gov.cumo having a reputation of beeing a womanizer so let’s give everyone the benefit of the doubt and investigate 

 

Absolutely should investigate.  I'll bet it's true however.  Cuomo is a thug.

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Chomper Higgot Star Member

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“State Attorney General Letitia James said it was essential that Cuomo's administration instead formally refer the matter to her office for investigation, which would give her subpoena power and ensure an impartial probe.”

 

NYAG James is correct. 

 

Hand this off to her office, conduct a 

formal investigation in which Cuomo plays no part beyond giving sworn testimony/evidence and place the findings before s Grand Jury.

 

Follow the Grand Jury’s recommendation to indict or not indict.

 

 

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Chomper Higgot Star Member

Chomper Higgot

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2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

So while we are investigating the sex misconduct we should do it together with the nursing home deaths from covid 19. Surly they can walk and chew gum at the same time.

Well yes, investigate those deaths too.

 

I have no problem with anyone facing a fair and open investigation where their are credible accusations of criminality - Anyone, regardless of who they are or what their political allegiance.

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Thingamabob Platinum Member

Thingamabob

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9 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

“State Attorney General Letitia James said it was essential that Cuomo's administration instead formally refer the matter to her office for investigation, which would give her subpoena power and ensure an impartial probe.”

 

NYAG James is correct. 

 

Hand this off to her office, conduct a 

formal investigation in which Cuomo plays no part beyond giving sworn testimony/evidence and place the findings before s Grand Jury.

 

Follow the Grand Jury’s recommendation to indict or not indict.

 

 

Hopefully his handling of the covid crisis will also be investigated, without delay.

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TallGuyJohninBKK Star Member

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Shocking isn't it?

 

Democratic elected officials publicly calling for a fair and impartial investigation to be conducted when one of their own is accused of sexual misconduct occurring in an official context, and even publicly saying there should be consequences like resignation if the person is found guilty.

 

Then on the flip side, you kind of have to wonder, where the Republicans were all the times Trump was accused of various kinds of misconduct, including sexual misconduct???

 

Let's see.... two impeachments not convicted by Republicans, Trump firing investigating federal inspectors general, dismissing the military officers who accused him, paying hush money to the porn star and nudie model with whom he had alleged affairs, attempted insurrection again his own U.S. government, attempted subversion of the U.S. democracy, etc etc etc...  And all the while, the Republicans in Congress looked the other way, deaf, dumb and blind.

 

Pretty much clearly tell you, what party stands for what.

 

 

Edited by TallGuyJohninBKK
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Credo Ruby Member

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11 hours ago, vandeventer said:

So while we are investigating the sex misconduct we should do it together with the nursing home deaths from covid 19. Surly they can walk and chew gum at the same time.

The investigation into the nursing home deaths is already underway.  That is a federal investigation, not a state one and it could impact whether or not he will be in charge of federal money for Covid relief.   

 

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Sujo Ruby Member

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12 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

Where was the media when the nursing home deaths story came out months ago? Covering for Cuomo.

How did you find out about it if it wasnt covered in the media?

 

I believe this is months ago.

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-07-14/blame-game-cuomo-takes-heat-over-ny-nursing-home-study

Edited by Sujo
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jvs Ruby Member

jvs

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20 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Shocking isn't it?

 

Democratic elected officials publicly calling for a fair and impartial investigation to be conducted when one of their own is accused of sexual misconduct occurring in an official context, and even publicly saying there should be consequences like resignation if the person is found guilty.

 

Then on the flip side, you kind of have to wonder, where the Republicans were all the times Trump was accused of various kinds of misconduct, including sexual misconduct???

 

Let's see.... two impeachments not convicted by Republicans, Trump firing investigating federal inspectors general, dismissing the military officers who accused him, paying hush money to the porn star and nudie model with whom he had alleged affairs, attempted insurrection again his own U.S. government, attempted subversion of the U.S. democracy, etc etc etc...  And all the while, the Republicans in Congress looked the other way, deaf, dumb and blind.

 

Pretty much clearly tell you, what party stands for what.

 

 

Yes like a butcher grading his own beef.Sooooo many things wrong with the good old USofA.

 

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Sujo Ruby Member

Sujo

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They know exactly what to do. Investigate claims of wrongdoing.

 

Trump supporters are confused by that notion.

Edited by onthedarkside
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26 minutes ago, AndyFoxy said:

The old circular firing squad. Great to watch.

Do you have a lucid explanation of why calling Cuomo to account will also destroy the political careers of other Democrats. Care to share it with the rest of us? Or is that you just couldn't resist sharing a cliché with the rest of us?

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Sujo Ruby Member

Sujo

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1 hour ago, J Town said:

Can you hear that "gurgling" sound? That's Cuomo's presidential aspirations going down the drain.

I dont think he was a serious contender. Unless he switches to a repub then he is a shoe in.

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Morch Star Member

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3 hours ago, J Town said:

Can you hear that "gurgling" sound? That's Cuomo's presidential aspirations going down the drain.

 

I don't know that he was ever a real contender, but seems allegations of sexual abuse/harassment are a fixture of such political campaigns these days. Biden paid his dues to this trend, and still won. So did Trump.

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Morch Star Member

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2 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

 

But wait!  There's more!

 

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo accused by third woman of unwanted sexual advances

 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/third-woman-accuses-cuomo

 

He's an Alpha male.

It was locker room stuff.

Anyone would do it if they could.

They are lying.

It's the other side attempt to discredit him.

There's no proof.

So what if he did?

 

And so on.

 

We had 4 years of that outta Trump fans. Kinda funny seeing them with pitchforks on this one. Fact is that there was just a recent topic about Trump legal troubles in this department, with all the usual suspects still around chiming in.

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Tug Ruby Member

Tug

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2 hours ago, ExpatOK said:

Cuomo is history. Does joe still think he's still the "gold standard"?

 

Perhaps his Cuomo's brother can interview him on his CNN show and get the truth out of him.

Looks like the younger lady’s rejected his advances so what they got their feelings hurt it is at most rather caddish behavior no more imo not such a big deal now grabbing the lady’s by the private’s or forcing your way in a dressing room is on a whole other level any real equivalent comparison is bull imo.perhaps censure at maximum is appropriate 

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