New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 63, finds himself behind the eight ball, trying to fend off allegations of workplace and sexual harassment, with at least seven women coming forward with stories about his inappropriate conduct. Cuomo has tried to sheepishly apologize but only partially, insisting his former employees and other women have a right to their stories but denying any wrongdoing. Cuomo says calls for his resignation are “reckless and dangerous,” referring to a kind of witch-hunt where there’s no proof that he actually did anything wrong. Saying he wouldn’t resign, Cumo rebuffed calls by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) and Sen. Kirsten Gillbaran (D-N.Y.) calling for his resignation. “We commend the brave actions of the individuals who have come forward with serious allegations of abuse and misconduct,” wrote Schumer and Gillibrand, calling for the governor to step down.
Cuomo’s big problem now is that failing to step down keeps his office and New York State in limbo, unable to perform the peoples’ business with such adverse publicity affecting his job. “Due to the multiple, credible sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, it is clear the Governor Cuomo has lost the confidence of the governing partners and the people of New York. Governor Cuomo should resign,” said Schumer and Gillibrand. Cuomo has staked a position that he didn’t do what’s alleged by at least seven women that came forward with complaints. “I did not do what has been alleged, period,” Cuomo said, but denials like than do little to help his cause. Cuomo faces a credibility gap due to multiple women coming forward with very similar stories, showing a pattern of inappropriate behavior. Whether Cuomo’s misconduct rises to the level of sexual harassment is anyone’s guess.
Cuomo’s response to the media quibbles over words “sexual harassment,” “inappropriate behavior,” “workplace misconduct,” etc, getting into a kind of Clinton defense, referring to former President Bill Clinton’s statement in 1998 under oath that “he did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky.” Of course the public has wised up in the last 23 years, knowing that words matter, especially in mounting a defense against serious allegations. When Cuomo says, “he did not do what has been alleged, perios,” he’s referring to “sexual harassment,” that would imply people like former producer Harvey Weinstein, journalists Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose and Tavis Smiley, all of whom accused by subordinate employees of actually having sex. No, there’s no evidence or allegation that Cuomo had sex with his subordinate employees, but there’s evidence of something.
Calling for Cuomo to step down has also come from New York Reps. Alexandra Ocaso-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and Jerry Nadler, all of whom think, whatever happened, Cuomo can no longer lead New York State. Cuomo actually has bigger fish to fry when it comes to his handling for the Covid-19 crisis, herding infected elderly patients into nursing homes, causing some 15,000 deaths. No matter how controversial his executive decision, the workplace harassment allegations can’t pass unnoticed because, as governor, he’s held to the same standards. When a number of his accusers say the same things, about the governor asking about their dating lives, whether they’d be comfortable having sex with an older man, it just goes over the top when it comes to Cuomos self-control and mental health. It’s one thing to have unmet needs, still another to foist those needs on subordinate employees on the job.
If Cuomo doesn’t resign soon, it’s possible the New York State legislature will be forced to institute impeachment hearings, marking the beginning of the end when enough votes are tallied up. When it becomes clear that the votes are there to vote Cuomo out, he’ll have to leave the governor’s mansion. Cuomo paints himself as the victim of either a political witch-hunt or what he calls “cancel culture.” “I did not do what has been alleged. Period,” Cuomo said. “People know the difference between playing politics, bowing to cancel culture and the truth.” But whatever the ‘truth,” there enough similar complaints to corroborate a pattern of conduct, whether the governor’s hung up on specific allegations. Any reasonable person looking at the situation knows there’s too many complaints to chock it up to a political conspiracy, leaving Cuomo few options left other than to call it quits.
Cuomo’s misbehavior involves too many unmet emotional needs for companionship together with a personality that thinks he’s entitled to cross recognized boundaries to get his needs met. Whether Andrew actually fits the exact definition of “sexual harassment” is unimportant. What’s important is that he acted inappropriately with subordinate employees, crossing the line from appropriate workplace standards. “I have not had a sexual relationship that was inappropriate, period,” Cuomo said, raising questions of whether he had a consensual sexual relationship with any of the women coming forward with complaints. Whatever happened, there’s a growing consensus, regardless of the governor’s denials, that he compromised New York State requirements for a harassment free work environment. Cuomo may not see what he’s done but he’s not the best judge of his own character.
