Accuser rejects Cuomo’s apology
Governor trying to “rewrite history” of encounter, she says
The woman who in a recent New York Times article said Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo sexually harassed her will not allow him to “rewrite history and to recast his abusive behavior” by attempting to portray his actions as mere inappropriate office banter. Instead, Charlotte Bennett said in a statement released Monday that Cuomo’s behavior was that of “an individual who wields his power to avoid justice.”
Bennett, 25, has contended that Cuomo questioned her about her sexual history, asked her if she’d ever been with an older man, and told her he’d be interested in being with a woman her age, which the former Executive Chamber staffer said made her uncomfortable and communicated to her that the governor wanted to sleep with her.
On Monday, she took aim at Cuomo’s own statement released late Sunday afternoon, in which he apologized for “being playful” and said that his comments might “have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation.”
“The governor has refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior,” Bennett said. “As we know, abusers — particularly those with tremendous amounts of power — are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulative tactics to diminish allegations, blame victims, deny wrongdoing and escape consequences.”
She said coming forward with her allegations was “an excruci
ating decision. I decided to share my story because I had faith that I would be supported and believed. This is often not the case. Sharing my experience was only possible because of past survivors who stood up and told their stories. I hope that my story helps other survivors feel like they can stand in their truth.”
Bennett is the second woman to accuse Cuomo: Former staffer Lindsey Boylan initially came forward in December and then posted an online essay last week detailing her allegations that the governor kissed her without her consent, asked her to play strip poker during a ride on government aircraft, and singled her out inappropriately for attention that made her uncomfortable.
Monday night The New York Times published an account from a woman, Anna Ruch, who was at a wedding Cuomo spoke at in 2019 in New York City. Ruch, who is not a state employee, asserts that the governor put his hand on her bare lower back, and then on her face in an attempt to kiss her. She physically removed his hand from her back and moved out of the way before the unwanted action ensued, she said. A photograph the woman said was taken at the same moment, published with the story, shows her with a nervous look on her face as Cuomo is standing close to her, smiling.
The statement from Bennett on Monday came shortly after it was confirmed that an investigation into the sexual harassment allegations is set to begin after state Attorney General Letitia James received the necessary referral letter from Cuomo.
James’ statement acknowledging the receipt of the referral on Monday marked the end of a back-and-forth that began Saturday evening, when the Times posted its story detailing Bennett’s allegations. Cuomo initially suggested an investigation by a person of his choosing, then — under immense political pressure — said he’d allow a “review” to take place by a person chosen by James and a Cuomo-appointed judge.
After James rejected both proposals, Cuomo finally agreed to refer the matter to James for a full investigation with the authority to issue subpoenas and compel testimony. James will now select a law firm that will be deputized by her office to conduct the investigation.
Cuomo’s legal counsel, Beth Garvey, signed the letter sent to James. Garvey said she would be the point of contact for the governor’s office on any matters related to the investigation, including providing any records in response to subpoenas.
All state employees have been directed to cooperate fully with the probe, Garvey said.
Bennett’s statement was issued by her attorney, Debra S. Katz, who represented Christine Blasey Ford, the California academic who in 2018 accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her decades earlier. Her testimony nearly upended Kavanaugh’s nomination.
Cuomo “was not acting as a mentor and his remarks were not misunderstood by Ms. Bennett,” Katz said in her own statement. “He was abusing his power over her for sex. This is textbook sexual harassment. If, as the governor now acknowledges, he talked to young women who worked for his administration in this manner, the problem is a systemic one and the (New York) attorney general must investigate whether other women were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment.”
Katz also called on James to investigate if other staffers “enabled” Cuomo’s alleged behavior. “We call on the attorney general to investigate the failure of Gov. Cuomo’s chief of staff and special counsel to fully investigate Ms. Bennett’s allegation,” Katz wrote. “They had a clear legal obligation to do so.”
Bennett closed her own statement with a message to other victims. “To survivors reading this: I believe you. I see you. I hear you,” she said. “Your story is valid, your pain is real and your anger is justified . ... To the governor’s survivors: I am here. Lindsey (Boylan) is here. You do not have to say a single word. But if you choose to speak your truth, we will be standing with you. I promise.”