Coming out the woodwork, 63-year-old New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been accused by another women about unwanted, unwarranted and inappropriate sexual advances, this time at a Sept. 2019 wedding reception. Ann Ruch, 33, claimed, in a verified photo, that the divorced governor grabbed her face and asked if he could kiss her at wedding reception. Unfortunately for the governor, someone snapped a picture of the incident, not as easily dismissed . “He said, ‘can I kiss you?” Ruch recalled. “I was so confused and shocked and embarrassed,” Ruch said, coming out with her experience after two female staffers shared similar stories about the New York governor. Ruch claimed that Cumo touched her bare back at the reception, shortly after they were introduced. It’s not out of line to ask whether Cuomo was under the influence when he made his advance toward the 33-year-old former Obama staffer.
Ruch said the governor touched her lower back that was exposed in a bare-back dress at the Sept. 2019 wedding reception. “I promptly removed his hand with my hand, which I would have thought was a clear enough indicator that I was not wanting time him to touch me,” Ruch told the New York Times. After the enconunter, Cumo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her,” something caught ion camera. “I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended. I acknowledge that some of the thing I have said may have been misinterpreted as unwanted flirtation,” Cumo said. “To the extent that anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry,” essentially admitting that the inappropriate behavior took place. Cuomo rejected calls for his resignation.
Workplace harassment is strictly prohibited in most state labor laws, making it a crime to cross the line in the workplace. “It’s the act of impunity that strikes me,” said Ruch. “I didn’t have a choice in that matter. I didn’t have a choice in his physical dominance over me at that moment. And that’s what really infuriates me,” Ruch said. Whether Cumo was under the influence of alcohol or something else is anyone’s guess. What’s abundantly clear is that Cuomo has an impulse problem, leaving him unable to control his urges. Former administrative staffer Lindsey Boylan said Cumo kissed her without her consent, commented on her appearance and asked her for a private meeting in his office. Former employee 25-year-old Charlotte Bennett said Cuomo questioned her about her sex life, said he was lonely and asked her if she was open to a sexual relationship with an older man.
Admitting he didn’t “intend” to do anything inappropriate or make anyone uncomfortable, Cuomo essentially said he was guilty as charged of sexual harassment in the New York state workplace. It’s not a matter of whether Cuomo accepts an independent investigation into his behavior now that he’s admitted that something happened that crossed the line in the workplace. Whatever the reasons subordinate employees remain silent about sexual harassment, it doesn’t give elective officials or anyone else the right to break the law without consequences. Cuomo’s inappropriate behavior has been well-documented, establishing an undeniable pattern. Cumo isn’t the first and won’t be the last elected official or VIP to engage in inappropriate sexual behavior or workplace harassment. What it comes down to sadly is someone with seriously unmet emotional or physical needs.
Whatever one’s walk-of-life, it’s easy to fall into inappropriate sexual behavior or workplace harassment when the person involved finds himslelf, as Cuomo admitted, lonely or needy, seeking gratification from available subordinates. “I have teased people about their personal lives, their relationships, about getting married or not getting married, I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business,” Cuomo admitted in a statement. Instead of keeping in professional, respecting his subordinate’s rights, Cuomo confesses he engages his female employees in inappropriate conversations. What Cuomo’s already admitted to is enough to convict anyone of workplace harassment, regardless of what his intent. It’s understandable that ambitious young women don’t want to rock the boat on their careers, confronting their male bosses with their inappropriate behavior. That’s why there are strict laws governing the workplace in most states.
Whatever independent investigation examines Cuomo’s conduct, no one can conclude, based on his own public testimony, that he didn’t violate state workplace laws banning sexual harassment. “The notion that his behavior was simply unwanted flirtation that may have caused ‘offense’ entirely ignores a workplace hierarchy in which he—the governor of the state—was positioned at the very top,” said Northwestern law professor Deborah Tuerkheimer. Everyone knows that Cuomo broke the law. What most people don’t know is what happens when to otherwise responsible people when their relationships fail, as Cuomo’s 15-year marriage in 2005. Ambitious, workaholic types, both men and women, sometimes see relationships fail or don’t have the time-and-energy to put into relationships. While there’s no excuse of workplace harassment, it’s sad to see the New York governor fall apart.
