Andrew Cuomo says he ‘never touched anyone inappropriately’ but apologises for making women uncomfortable

The New York Governor faces accusations of sexual harassment
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Andrew Cuomo
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John Dunne @jhdunne3 March 2021

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said he is “so sorry” for making women uncomfortable but denied touching anyone inappropriately.

Three women have recently come forward with accusations of sexual harassment against the Democrat.

In his first public comments on the allegations, Mr Cuomo said he felt “embarrassed” that his actions made the women feel uncomfortable at work.

The governor said he would not resign, despite calls for him to do so from within his own party.

Mr Cuomo asked the public to wait for the “facts” before drawing conclusions.

The New York attorney general has opened an investigation into the allegations and is to file a report on the findings.

On Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan, a candidate for Manhattan borough president, who used to work for the governor and the state’s economic development agency, said Mr Cuomo had kissed her without consent and asked her to play strip poker.

On Saturday,The New York Times reported that Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant and health policy adviser to Mr Cuomo, added a new set of accusations: that the governor was “grooming” her for a future sexual advance by asking if she practiced monogamy and was comfortable sleeping with older men.

Then, on Monday, a woman named Anna Ruch said the governor had placed an unwanted hand on her lower back at a wedding reception in 2019 before asking to kiss her, an exchange which a friend of hers photographed.

The governor said: “First, I fully support a woman’s right to come forward. And I think it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional. And I truly and deeply apologise for it. I feel awful about it.”

He said he never touched anyone inappropriately, adding: “And frankly I am embarrassed by it, and that’s not easy to say, but that’s the truth.

“But this is what I want you to know. I want you to know this from me directly. I never touched anyone inappropriately,” he said.

“I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And I certainly never ever meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain.”

He ruled out resigning, saying that he still had work to steering New York through the pandemic.

“I’m not going to resign,” he said. “I’m going to do the job the people elected me to do.”

New York leaders, including members of Mr Cuomo’s Democratic party, have called for him to resign.

The White House has said it supports a thorough independent investigation into the allegations.

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