The powerful governor of New York Andrew Cuomo said Sunday, February 28
"really sorry"
that his behavior and his remarks were
"misinterpreted as unsolicited flirtation"
, after a second accusation of sexual harassment which weakened him.
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“At work, I think I play, that I make jokes that I think are funny. Sometimes I tease people in what I think is good-natured ways, both in public and in private, ”
the 63-year-old governor said in a statement Sunday.
“I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some comments, given my position, may have had unintended effects on some.
I realize that some of the things I said have been misinterpreted, such as unsolicited flirtation.
If some have had this impression, I am really sorry ”
.
“To be clear, I never touched anyone inappropriately, nor made advances to anyone, and I never wanted to make anyone uncomfortable,”
he said. added.
"Strip poker"
These are the first apologies offered by the powerful 63-year-old governor since the first accusation of sexual harassment against him, coming from one of his former advisers, who detailed them in a blog on Wednesday.
This advisor, Lindsey Boylan, claimed that the governor had kissed her on the mouth unsolicited, suggested that she play
strip poker
with him
and
"made every effort to
touch
(him)
on his back, his arms. , the legs ”
.
On Saturday, another ex-collaborator, Charlotte Bennett, told the
New York Times
that he had made advances to her that had made her
"uncomfortable"
in the spring of 2020.
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His apology comes as some New York parliamentarians, including within his Democratic majority, have called for his resignation.
Like Senator Alessandra Biaggi, who called him a
"monster"
in a tweet on Saturday.
A growing number of personalities have also called this weekend for an independent investigation into the allegations, led by state prosecutor Letitia James.
After proposing that the investigation be conducted by an ex-judge considered too close to the governor, the governor's office said Sunday evening that it had asked Ms. James to appoint a private lawyer to conduct the investigations.
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