New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing a political crisis and legal scrutiny as he
undergoes new accusations of sexual misconduct in the workplace.
Two of the governor's former workers have come forward with their stories that detail
Cuomo's alleged behaviors of sexual harassment.
The New York Times also reported on March 1 that a third accusation has been leveled
by Anna Ruch, who briefly met the politician at a wedding in 2019.
Lindsey Boylan, a former state economic development official, was the first to accuse the politician
of making sexual advances when she worked under his administration from 2016 to 2018,
The New York Times reported.
The Columbia University grad detailed her "uncomfortable" experiences with the governor
in a candid post on Medium, which included the claim that he once gave her an unsolicited
kiss on the lips at his office in Manhattan.
On February 24, 2021, she wrote:
"There is a part of me that will never forgive myself for being a victim for so long, for
trying to ignore behavior that I knew was wrong.
The governor exploited my weaknesses, my desire to do good work and to be respected."
A second former aide of Cuomo's came forward to share her experiences with the governor
days after Boylan.
Charlotte Bennett, who was an executive assistant and health policy adviser for the Cuomo administration,
told The New York Times that the governor had harassed her during the spring of 2020.
Cuomo did not necessarily deny Bennett's accusations, though he told The Times that he never made
advances toward Ms. Bennett, and never intended to act in any way that was inappropriate.
Cuomo also requested an independent investigation and asked New Yorkers to await the results
"before making any judgments" of their own.
In response to Cuomo's statement, Bennett released another statement of her own, saying
the governor had, quote, "refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior."
"It took the Governor 24 hours and significant backlash to allow for a truly independent
investigation.
These are not the actions of someone who simply feels misunderstood."
Just one day before Bennett came forward, Lindsey Boylan publicly accused the governor
of attempting to kiss her in 2018.
She also claimed that he suggested they play strip poker on a flight on his official state
jet in October 2017.
Cuomo's press secretary called Boylan's allegations, quote, "quite simply false."
Sandra Lee, who was in a romantic relationship with Cuomo for 14 years until 2019, did not
immediately address the claims against Cuomo.
However, when presented with the materials and evidence outlined in The New York Times,
she replied by simply stating, "Oh my God," before declining to comment further on the
situation, according to the New York Post.
And on February 27, the chef and author took to Instagram and uploaded a photo of the sunset
on the beach, along with a caption that read in part:
"Sending everyone peace and loving healing regards from Malibu!"
Lee's post came just hours after Charlotte Bennett accused her 63-year-old politician
ex of asking her inappropriate, personal questions at work.
According to the New York Times, Cuomo is alleged to have asked Bennett if she was sexually
interested in older men.
Bennett further explained:
"I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable
and scared.
And was wondering how I was going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job."
After over a decade of dating, it's no surprise Lee is hesitant to speak following Cuomo's
sexual harassment claims.
The couple first got together in 2005, after Cuomo's split from ex-wife Kerry Kennedy,
the seventh child of Robert F. Kennedy.
Cuomo and Lee have no children of their own, but the governor has three children from his
prior relationship with Kennedy, with whom Lee reportedly formed a close relationship.
In fact, Lee and Cuomo's eldest daughter, Cara, worked together to produce a documentary
about Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2019 titled Ruth: Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words.
Following the publication of her essay on Medium, Lindsey Boylan tweeted:
"I am grateful for the support I’ve received since telling my story – not just from people
in New York but across the country.
When we show up & support victims, we make it easier for others to come forward.
Only by shining a light on this kind of abuse will we be able to end it."
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more Nicki Swift videos about the latest hot topics are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.