The U.S. Department of Justice determined former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo subjected at least 13 state employees to a “sexually hostile work environment,” with his senior staff retaliating against at least four of them, according to a settlement released by federal prosecutors on Friday.
The findings are part of a civil rights investigation the feds launched just prior to Cuomo’s resignation in 2021 and are included in a nine-page settlement agreement between the DOJ and the office of current Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The new settlement includes only a broad summary of Cuomo’s alleged actions, and does not delve into any specifics about the employees or the harassment they faced. The settlement also does not include information on the alleged retaliation four employees faced, which the DOJ said was carried out by “Cuomo’s senior staff.”
John Marzulli, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Breon Peace of New York’s Eastern District, said no supporting documents are publicly available.
The settlement marks the first time the federal government has weighed in on the numerous allegations against Cuomo. He stepped down in August 2021 after a report by investigators hired by state Attorney General Letitia James found the governor had sexually harassed at least 11 women — only some of whom were state employees.
The agreement, led by the DOJ and the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn, says the number was higher: at least 13 women, all of whom were female employees of New York state.
“Gov. Cuomo repeatedly subjected these female employees to unwelcome, nonconsensual sexual contact; ogling; unwelcome sexual comments; gender-based nicknames; comments on their physical appearances; and/or preferential treatment based on their physical appearances,” according to a portion of the settlement that summarizes the DOJ’s findings.
Rita Glavin, Cuomo’s attorney, said the DOJ never contacted the former governor in connection with the civil rights probe. She noted the settlement…
Read the full article here
Leave a Reply