ALBANY, NY – The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with New York state on Friday to settle a sexual assault investigation into former governor Andrew Cuomo. corroborates allegations of malicious abuse investigation it led to the Democrat’s resignation.
The agreement Cuomo details a series of reforms since leaving office and outlines additional steps he will take to change how the state handles sexual harassment allegations.
Cuomo, once a rising star in the Democratic Party, He left his post in 2021 then a Report of Attorney General Letitia James concluded that he had sexually assaulted at least 11 women. He denied the allegations and claimed that James’ report was politically motivated, with the intention of impeaching him so he could run for governor.
Which is the investigation of the Ministry of Justice started In 2021, it similarly found a pattern of sexual misconduct by Cuomo, which it said exposed at least 13 state employees to a sexually hostile work environment. It said Cuomo’s staff failed to adequately report the allegations and retaliated against the four women who made the complaints.
“Under the leadership of the former governor, the state’s most powerful elected official, the conduct in the executive chamber was particularly egregious because of the stark power differential and the lack of opportunities for victims to report and redress harassment,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.
Cuomo’s attorney said in a statement that the former governor “did not sexually assault anyone.”
“The DOJ ‘investigation’ was based entirely on a deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased and misleading report by the NYS Attorney General. The DOJ never contacted Governor Cuomo regarding these matters. This is nothing more than political settlement without any investigation,” said Rita Glavin.
The decision came amid rumors that Cuomo was considering a political turnaround.
New York’s governor, Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who served as lieutenant governor until Cuomo’s resignation, said in a statement that she looks forward to continuing to reform the state’s procedures to address and prevent sexual harassment and retaliation.
“The moment I took office, I knew I had to eradicate the culture of harassment that previously plagued the Executive Chamber and implement strong policies to promote a safe workplace for all employees, and I took immediate action to do just that,” Hochul said.