The US Justice Department has reached a settlement with the state of New York regarding a sexual harassment investigation involving former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The settlement, announced on Friday, confirms the allegations that led to Cuomo’s resignation in 2021 and sheds light on a pattern of sexual misconduct.
The Justice Department Findings
This development comes after a contentious period where Cuomo vehemently denied any wrongdoing, criticizing the investigation as politically motivated.
According to the settlement, the US Justice Department concluded that Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed over a dozen state employees, mirroring the findings of the state’s Attorney General Letitia James.
The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual misconduct, asserting that at least 13 state employees experienced a sexually hostile work environment under Cuomo’s leadership.
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Cuomo’s Attorney Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations, Challenges Findings
Furthermore, it noted that Cuomo’s staff failed to adequately report allegations and retaliated against four women who raised complaints.
Despite the damning findings, Cuomo’s attorney, Rita Glavin, released a statement asserting that the former governor did not sexually harass anyone. The statement criticized the Justice Department’s investigation, claiming it was based entirely on the “deeply flawed, inaccurate, biased, and misleading” report from the New York State Attorney General.
Glavin contended that the Justice Department did not contact Governor Cuomo during its probe and dismissed the settlement as a political agreement lacking a genuine investigation.
As part of the settlement, the state of New York has committed to implementing changes in how it handles misconduct complaints. A new process will be established for individuals to lodge complaints against senior officials through a third-party law firm.
Additionally, the state will provide enhanced training on reporting harassment and discrimination. To address potential retaliation against complainants, the governor’s office will introduce a dedicated program for monitoring such incidents.
New York’s current Governor, Kathy Hochul, who assumed office after Cuomo’s resignation, expressed her commitment to continuing reforms in the state’s procedures for addressing and preventing sexual harassment and retaliation.
Governor Hochul emphasized her immediate action upon taking office to eradicate a culture of harassment within the Executive Chamber and implement policies promoting a safe workplace for all employees.
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