Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including employees, New York attorney general finds

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, including employees in his office, and violated state and federal laws, according to the findings of an investigation by the state's attorney general’s office.

The investigation found that Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women current and former state employees — one of whom is a New York State Trooper. It also found the governor and his team retaliated against a former employee for coming forward.

Cuomo, a Democrat in his third term, has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

The investigators detailed in graphic terms instances of harassment they say Cuomo perpetuated, including making sexual comments and grabbing women.

Cuomo is accused of "a pattern of inappropriate conduct" with a staff member described as "Executive Assistant #1," which included kissing her on the lips at least once, grabbing her butt during hugs, asking multiple times about whether she had cheated or would cheat on her husband and once reaching under her blouse and grabbing her breast, according to the report.

He sexually harassed a New York state trooper assigned to his security detail on a number of occasions, the report found.

Cuomo ran "his hand across her stomach, from her belly button to her right hip," as she held a door open, the report states. While she was standing in front of him on an elevator, he ran "his finger down her back, from the top of her neck down her spine to the middle of her back, saying 'hey, you,'" the report states.

In another instance, he is accused of "kissing her (and only her) on the cheek in front of another trooper and asking to kiss her on another occasion, which she deflected." Other troopers corroborated the accounts.

"Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed several women," New York Attorney General Letitia James said Tuesday at a news conference, adding that his actions violated state and federal laws.

"This investigation has revealed conduct that corrodes the very fabric and character of our state government and shines light on injustice that can be present at the highest level of government," said James.

The attorney general did not announce any charges, saying that the women could pursue civil suits or that local police departments could review their findings.

"We have issued a report and all throughout the process we put our heads down, we've done our job. And at this point...we're going to allow the chips to call where they may," James said.

Over a half-dozen sexual harassment allegations were leveled at Cuomo this year, and included accusations of unwanted kissing or touching to sexual harassment. The governor has denied touching anyone inappropriately, but has acknowledged that he may have acted in ways that made people feel uncomfortable.

He said that discomfort was unintentional and apologized. He later said that he didn't think his actions should be considered sexual harassment. Cuomo has said repeatedly that he will not resign, despite calls to do so from the bulk of New York's congressional delegation and dozens of state legislators.

James' office began an official investigation into Cuomo in March, right before Anna Ruch, 33, told The New York Times that she felt "uncomfortable and embarrassed" when Cuomo placed his hands on her face and asked to kiss her at a wedding in 2019.

In answering a question on what the public should take away from the report, James replied, "That these 11 women were in a hostile and toxic work environment, and that we should believe women."

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