The U.S. Justice Department has reached a settlement with the state of New York regarding the sexual harassment investigation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo. This confirms the allegations made against him and the subsequent probe that ultimately led to his resignation. The agreement outlines a series of reforms implemented after Cuomo left office, as well as additional steps the state will take to address and prevent sexual harassment.
Once a rising star in the Democratic Party, Cuomo stepped down in 2021 after an investigation by Attorney General Letitia James concluded that he sexually harassed at least 11 women. Despite denying the allegations and asserting that James’ report was politically motivated, the Justice Department’s own investigation supported the findings, revealing a pattern of sexual misconduct by Cuomo. It also stated that at least 13 state employees were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment and that Cuomo’s staff failed to adequately report the allegations and retaliated against four women who raised complaints.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the severity of the situation, considering the power differential involved and the lack of avenues for victims to report and address harassment. Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, criticized the DOJ’s investigation, claiming it solely relied on James’ flawed and biased report and that Cuomo was not contacted during the process.
Interestingly, this settlement comes at a time when rumors of Cuomo’s potential political comeback are circulating. In response to the development, current New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who assumed the role after Cuomo’s resignation, expressed her commitment to continuing the reformation of the state’s procedures for handling sexual harassment and retaliation.
“The moment I took office, I knew I needed to eradicate the culture of harassment that had previously plagued the Executive Chamber,” Hochul stated. “I implemented strong policies to promote a safe workplace for all employees and took immediate action to do so.”
For more details on this story, visit F5 Magazine.