Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation after an independent investigation by the attorney general’s office found he sexually harassed 11 women and created a toxic workplace.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigned over allegations of sexual and workplace harassment and faces investigations over nursing home deaths during the coronavirus pandemic. Here is a timeline of the claims against the governor and his administration: Dec.13,2020 — Former aide Lindsey Boylan accuses Gov. Cuomo of sexual harassment in a series of tweets. Boylan, who is running for Manhattan borough president, wrote the governor “sexually harassed me for years,” adding “I know I’m not the only one.” Dec.14 — The governor addresses Boylan’s tweets during a press briefing, telling reporters they “were simply not true.” Jan.28,2021 — New York Attorney General Letitia James releases a damning report accusing the New York State Health Department of undercounting nursing home deaths by as much as 50%. Jan.29 — Cuomo and health officials respond, saying they separated nursing home deaths from nursing home residents who died at hospitals because of concerns about double counting, but insist the total number of deaths was always accurate. Feb.12 — Secretary to the Governor Melissa DeRosa comes under fire after telling Democratic lawmakers the administration delayed responding to a request for nursing home data in August because they feared it would be “used against us” by then-President Donald Trump. New York State Assembly Member Ron Kim was on the call and spoke out about DeRosa’s comments, saying “you can’t hide information because you think you could be politically hurt in the process.” Feb.15 — The governor holds a press conference, taking responsibility for the “void” of information on nursing home deaths but insisting there was no cover-up. Feb.17 — Cuomo attacks Kim, alleging he “acted unethically, if not illegally” and took political donations from nail salons while working on legislation that was supposed to crack down on salon abuses. “The governor can smear me all he wants in an effort to distract us from his fatally incompetent management. But these facts are not going away,” Kim responded. Feb.18 — Kim comes forward with allegations that Cuomo “berated” and threatened him to keep quiet. A top Cuomo aide accuses Kim of lying, saying it’s “part of a years-long pattern of lies.” Feb.24 — Former Cuomo staffer Karen Hinton brings forward allegations of bullying against the governor. “He made me feel as if I were no good at my job and thus totally dependent on him to keep it,” Hinton said. “Working for him is like a 1950s version of marriage. He always, always comes first. Everyone and everything else — your actual spouse, your children, your own career goals — is secondary. Your focus 24 hours a day is on him.” Boylan shares more details about her sexual harassment claims, saying Cuomo once said, “Let’s play strip poker,” on a flight in 2017 and kissed her on the lips at his New York City offices in 2018. The governor’s team once again disputed her story, releasing flight manifests and statements from other aides who said the conversation “did not happen.” Feb.27 — Former aide Charlotte Bennett comes forward with another sexual harassment claim against the governor. She alleges to the The New York Times he asked her “numerous questions about her personal life, including whether she thought age made a difference in romantic relationships, and had said that he was open to relationships with women in their 20s.” Feb.28 — Cuomo agrees to Attorney General James’ demand for the power to appoint an independent investigator to look into the allegations. He also releases a lengthy statement addressing the mounting claims: “Questions have been raised about some of my past interactions with people in the office. “I never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm. I spend most of my life at work and colleagues are often also personal friends. “At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I do, on occasion, tease people in what I think is a good natured way. I do it in public and in private. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times. 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. “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 some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that. “To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to. “That‘s why I have asked for an outside, independent review that looks at these allegations.
