Cuomo Responds To Allegations, Addresses Photo Holding Face Of Third Accuser: ‘It Is My Usual Way Of Greeting’
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has responded Wednesday at a press conference saying he is ’embarrassed’ and it was ‘unintentional’ for the allegations made against him.
“I want to address the recent allegations that have been made against me. As you probably know, the Attorney General is doing an independent review and I will fully cooperate with that review. Now, the lawyers say, I shouldn’t say anything, when you have a pending review until that review is over, I understand that. I’m a lawyer too,” Cuomo stated.
Cuomo continued, “But I want New Yorkers to hear from me directly on this. First, I fully support a woman’s right to come forward, and I think it should be encouraged in every way. I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional. And I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it. And frankly, I am embarrassed by it. And that’s not easy to say. But that’s the truth.”
“But this is what I want you to know and I want you to know this from me directly, I never touched anyone inappropriately,” Cuomo said. “I never knew at the time that I was making anyone feel uncomfortable. And I certainly never ever meant to offend anyone, or hurt anyone or cause anyone any pain. That is the last thing I would ever want to do.”
The governor said, “I asked the people of the this state to wait for the facts from the attorney general’s report before forming an opinion,” as his way to tell people not to form opinions until an investigation is done.
A tearful @NYGovCuomo on his sexual harassment scandal: "It was unintentional … I feel awful about it. And frankly, I'm embarrassed by it … It's been difficult … for me"
Notably, he denies Lindsey Boylan's claim he kissed her: "Get the facts before informing an opinion." pic.twitter.com/s7Kt94fW4h
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 3, 2021
Lindsey Boylan was the first to make accusations against Cuomo who was a former staffer and she was not happy to hear his apologies.
Boylan said, “How an New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo to lead our state if you ‘don’t know’ when you’ve been inappropriate with your own staff?”
How can New Yorkers trust you @NYGovCuomo to lead our state if you “don’t know” when you’ve been inappropriate with your own staff?
— Lindsey Boylan (@LindseyBoylan) March 3, 2021
Cuomo did bring up how he greets people to say, “You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people, men, women. It is my usual and customary way of greeting.”
Cuomo's defense against claims of sexual harassment made against him:
"You can go find hundreds of pictures of me kissing people" pic.twitter.com/xufc5ZIgm4
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) March 3, 2021
New York State Assemblyman Mike Lawler quoted Cuomo’s statement ‘I never touched anyone inappropriately’ and pointed ‘Yes you did’
“I never touched anyone inappropriately.” – @NYGovCuomo
Yes you did. 👇 pic.twitter.com/2xNf6DSQxT
— Assemblyman Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) March 3, 2021