Harassment, health crisis: the powerful governor of New York Andrew Cuomo falters
Andrew Cuomo in New York, February 22, 2021. REUTERS - POOL
Text by: Loubna Anaki Follow
6 mins
Some had seen in him a potential future president for his management of the coronavirus crisis in New York.
Today, Andrew Cuomo faces sexual harassment charges and controversy over Covid deaths.
The political future of the powerful New York governor could be jeopardized.
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From our correspondent in New York,
The photo made the headlines of several American newspapers this Tuesday, March 2.
We see Andrew Cuomo, both hands on the face of a visibly uncomfortable woman.
Anna Ruch speaks of an "
embarrassing
"
moment
.
She is the third woman to accuse the governor of New York of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment.
For
journalists from
the New York Times
, Anna Ruch said that the photo was taken at a wedding in September 2019. Andrew Cuomo had a speech in honor of the newlyweds.
"
He looked nice, I wanted to thank him for the words he said about my friends,
" she recalls.
But what happens next "
confuses
" her: the politician would first put his hand on the young woman's lower back before putting his hands on her face and asking if he could kiss her.
“
I felt confused, shocked,
” says Anna Ruch.
“
I walked away from him.
I was speechless.
"
The story of this woman, who has never worked for the governor, plunges Andrew Cuomo a little more into turmoil.
Breaking: A third woman has accused Cuomo of over-the-line behavior.
Incredibly, a photographer caught the moment, and this look on her face: https://t.co/NnKCs1Y7WF pic.twitter.com/Smr4hNiKKp
- Jodi Kantor (@jodikantor) March 2, 2021
"Strip poker" and moved proposals
Before her, two former collaborators confided in the press.
Lindsey Boylan, a former economic adviser, said the governor had forcibly kissed her on the mouth and suggested that she play "strip poker" with him.
A situation that would have lasted several years before the young woman decided to resign.
Charlotte Bennett said, too, to have been entitled to remarks and proposals moved in the spring of 2020. She ensures that he asked her in particular if she "
had already had relations with older men
".
After denying the charges, Andrew Cuomo released a statement on Sunday apologizing for comments that could have been misinterpreted.
“
At work, I sometimes tease people about their private life,
” writes the governor, “
I realize that some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted, such as unsolicited flirtation
”.
A
mea culpa
which does not pass near his accusers.
Charlotte Bennett accuses her former boss of not taking responsibility for the consequences of his actions.
"
It is not the actions of someone who has been misunderstood, this is predatory behavior
," writes the young woman who called "
possible other victims
" to come out of the silence.
Andrew Cuomo will now have to answer questions from the New York Attorney General who is
opening an investigation into the charges
.
Investigations whose conclusions could be devastating for Andrew Cuomo's career.
Just a few weeks ago, the Democratic governor ruled New York state as emperor.
At 63, he is in his third term.
His handling of the coronavirus crisis had propelled him to the status of a national hero.
His daily press conferences punctuated the lives of New Yorkers as the state became the global epicenter of the pandemic.
Many locally saw him as a reassuring leader while in Washington, Donald Trump refused to adopt a unified national policy to fight the virus.
“
What matters to us is science and facts
”, had become his signature during each public intervention.
At the time, some commentators even predicted a presidential political future for him.
Management of the health crisis finally criticized
Today, Andrew Cuomo's star seems to be fading a little more every day.
In addition to accusations of sexual harassment, his handling of the
much-celebrated
crisis
is now under fire.
Last month, the New York attorney general's office released a report accusing the governor's office of downplaying the number of deaths from Covid-19 in nursing homes.
The governor's position is now more fragile than ever and more and more voices are rising to demand accountability, even within his own party.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez considers the harassment charges "
extremely serious
".
Her colleague Kathleen Rice, also elected New Yorker, goes further and calls for the governor's resignation.
New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, whose strained relationship with Andrew Cuomo is common knowledge, is also calling for “
immediate action
” on the part of state officials.
"
New Yorkers deserve answers on the management of the Covid and on these accusations
", writes the mayor.
At the White House, Joe Biden, a close friend of the governor, said he supported the ongoing investigations.
For the moment, Andrew Cuomo is keeping a low profile, he who is used to appearing very often on television.
His term ends at the end of 2022, but the question could soon be not "if" but "when" he will step down.
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