Gov. Cuomo asks former federal judge to conduct review of sexual harassment allegations

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has asked a former federal judge appointed by Bill Clinton to lead an independent review after a second woman came forward with sexual harassment allegations against him. 

Both the governor and his special counsel, Beth Garvey, released statements Saturday evening calling for the review from Barbara Jones and for all staff to fully comply after former aide, Charlotte Bennett, accused Cuomo of harassment while working with him during the pandemic.

‘This situation cannot and should not be resolved in the press,’ Cuomo said in his statement, denying the allegations. ‘I believe the best way to get to the truth is through a full and thorough outside review and I am directing all state employees to comply with that effort. 

Former federal judge Barbara Jones

Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his special counsel, Beth Garvey, released statements Saturday evening calling for the review from former federal judge Barbara Jones

Charlotte Bennett, 25, who served in a number of roles for Cuomo - including executive assistant and health policy advisor - said the governor made a number of concerning comments to her last spring during the height of the pandemic in the state. She is the second former aide to accuse the governor of sexual harassment

Charlotte Bennett, 25, who served in a number of roles for Cuomo – including executive assistant and health policy advisor – said the governor made a number of concerning comments to her last spring during the height of the pandemic in the state. She is the second former aide to accuse the governor of sexual harassment

‘I ask all New Yorkers to await findings of the review so that they know the facts before they make any judgements.’ 

Garvey added: ‘Although in no way required by law, the Governor has requested an independent review and all staff will cooperate in that endeavor. Former Federal Judge Barbara Jones will lead the review.’

Bennett, 25, who served in a number of roles for Cuomo – including executive assistant and health policy advisor – explained to the New York Times that the governor made a number of concerning comments to her last spring during the height of the pandemic in the state. 

According to her LinkedIn, Bennett had been working as the Special Assistant to the Governor for Briefings at the time of this March 2019 tweet

According to her LinkedIn, Bennett had been working as the Special Assistant to the Governor for Briefings at the time of this March 2019 tweet

She said that on numerous occasions, the governor asked her questions about her personal life. Those questions included those that pertained to a romantic relationship between two people of different ages.

Bennett said that Cuomo also made comments stating he was open to dating women in their 20s, which she took as overtures to a sexual relationship. The former aide did state that Cuomo never made an attempt to touch her. 

‘I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,’ Ms. Bennett told the Times. ‘And was wondering how I was going to get out of it and assumed it was the end of my job.’ 

Bennett informed Cuomo’s chief of staff, Jill DesRosiers, of the interaction and was transferred to her role as the health policy adviser. Her new office was in the completely opposite side of the Capitol. She also said that she gave a statement to Judith Mogul, special counsel to the governor. 

She also told her parents and friends of the encounters, soon after they occurred, informing them of the growing discomfort she had with working with him. 

According to her LinkedIn, Bennett is now working at Primary Maternity Care as a Director of Operations. 

In his statement Saturday, Cuomo described Bennett as a ‘hardworking and valued member of the tead during COVID’ who he had tried to ‘mentor.’ 

‘When she came to me and opened up about being a sexual assault survivor and how it shaped her and her ongoing efforts to create an organization that empowered her voice to help other survivors, I tried to be supportive and helpful,’ the governor added in his statement.

‘Ms. Bennett’s initial impression was right: I was trying to be a mentor to her. I never made advances toward Ms. Bennett nor did I ever intend to act in any way that was inappropriate. The last thing I would ever have wanted was to make her feel any of the things that are being reported.’

Bennett is the second former aide of the governor’s to come forward with allegations. 

In an essay published to Medium Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan – who worked as a special advisor to Cuomo in 2018 – charged that the Governor asked her to play strip poker and kissed on the lips without her permission. Cuomo has denied the allegations. 

In Wednesday’s Medium post Boylan claimed she was taking a plane ride with Cuomo in 2017 when he asked her to play strip poker. 

‘I should have been shocked by the Governor’s crude comment, but I wasn’t,’ she wrote.

She further alleged that during a one-on-one briefing with the Governor to update him on economic and infrastructure projects he kissed her without permission. 

‘We were in his New York City office on Third Avenue. As I got up to leave and walk toward an open door, he stepped in front of me and kissed me on the lips. I was in shock, but I kept walking.

‘I had complained to friends that the Governor would go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs,’ she wrote. 

Boylan had already alleged in tweets in December last year that Cuomo ‘abused his power’ and sexually harassed her for years. 

Cuomo’s press secretary Caitlin Girouard issued a statement Wednesday saying Boylan’s latest allegations are untrue. 

‘As we said before, Ms. Boylan’s claims of inappropriate behavior are quite simply false,’ she stated.