United States: five minutes to understand the accusations against Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York

“I think he should resign.

The words of the President of the United States on Tuesday sounded like a bomb across the Atlantic.

Joe Biden lets go of his friend and New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, entangled in accusations of sexual harassment by a dozen women.

Although an investigative report published the same day overwhelms him, Andrew Cuomo denies everything and does not consider resigning for a second.

However, he could be dismissed.

What's wrong with Andrew Cuomo?

Governor since 2011 of the State of New York, re-elected in 2014 and 2018, Andrew Cuomo would he have taken advantage of his position to give himself certain rights with women? In the report of the Attorney General of New York published Tuesday, rich of 168 pages, are listed the various charges against Andrew Cuomo: having had "inappropriate behavior with an executive assistant", a behavior "harassing" towards a woman who joined his protection, to have put his hand on the buttocks of another during an official photo taken… In total, the report mentions 11 testimonies.

The first woman to speak is Lindsey Boylan who, on December 13, 2020, in a series of tweets and on her blog, pointed out the behavior of the politician, who was once her boss. She said she resigned in 2018 after Andrew Cuomo "(her) forcibly kissed" during a meeting. The investigation made public Tuesday reports other facts of the governor of New York against the woman: incessant comments about her appearance, "inappropriate" comments, touching "on various parts of her body" ...

Lindsey Boylan's accusations - although Andrew Cuomo's team attempted to discredit her testimony and her person by revealing confidential information, as the investigation report notes - allowed the release of other women to speak.

In February and March, several others had testified in the media or via social networks of inappropriate behavior by the politician, most often in the context of work.

What are the political reactions?

Andrew Cuomo, member of the Democratic Party, weighs in political circles in the United States. First, because he is the governor of the State of New York. But also in his past: he worked in the administration of Bill Clinton between 1997 and 2001, was Attorney General of New York (the same office that is investigating him today) between 2007 and 2010 before being elected governor general in 2011, a position he had already tried to run for in 2002, before giving up after creating controversy by criticizing the management of the September 11, 2001 attacks by the then governor. Some even saw him conquer the White House in 2024.

From the media coverage of the first testimonies, Andrew Cuomo was released by his own camp. Senators and members of the Assembly of the State of New York, Republicans, but also Democrats, in March signed a petition to this effect. Elected officials also launched an impeachment inquiry - parallel to that of the attorney general - to force the governor of New York to leave. "It is quite clear to me that the Governor has lost the confidence of the Democratic majority in the Assembly and that he can no longer remain in office," the President of the New York Assembly said on Tuesday, opening the way to impeachment.

The report's release on Tuesday confirmed calls for the New York governor's resignation.

Joe Biden, President of the United States and close friend of the governor, felt he should resign.

He had already said it in March, in an interview, on condition that the facts are confirmed.

"Recognizing his love for New York and respect for the post he occupies, I call on the governor to resign," also said, Tuesday, the Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, in a press release. .

How does Andrew Cuomo defend himself?

Dropped by everyone, the governor of New York persists. As he has been doing since the first hour: “At work, sometimes I think I'm playful and make jokes that I find funny. I do not want to offend you and I am only trying to add lightness and jokes to what is a very serious matter, ”had defended Andrew Cuomo in February, already refusing to resign.

"I have never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances," he said in a video, posted shortly after the report was released on Tuesday.

“I now understand that there are generational or cultural issues that, frankly, I had not fully grasped,” added Andrew Cuomo.

And the governor of New York to support his defense with an 85-page counter-report, published online, in which we find in particular photos, supposed to clear it, of other American politicians such as Barack Obama and Joe Biden do hugging or hugging.

Governor Cuomo Responds to Independent Reviewer Report: https://t.co/sgPuPEDXRU

- Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) August 3, 2021

The governor of New York therefore refuses to resign. He is not giving up either, for the time being, to be a candidate for re-election in 2022. A stubbornness which, on the Democratic side, raises fears of the loss of New York State and taints the image of the Democratic Party, seeking to to distinguish himself from the hard-hitting behavior of Donald Trump.