Lawyer for former Cuomo aide blasts ‘falsehoods’ at briefing

Debra Katz, the attorney for one of the former aides accusing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) of sexual harassment, rebuked the governor over his remarks Wednesday about the allegations, saying they were full of “falsehoods and inaccurate information.”

Cuomo said he would not resign during a Wednesday press conference while acknowledging that he “acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable.”

But Katz said his remarks fell far short of what is needed given the allegations of her client, former Cuomo aide Charlotte Bennett, as well as another former Cuomo aide Lindsey Boylan and a third woman, Anna Ruch, who came forward with accusations about inappropriate touching by the governor. 

“The Governor repeatedly said he never touched anyone inappropriately. Ms Ruch’s story made clear that’s not accurate,” Katz said in a statement. 

“The Governor repeatedly said he had no idea he made anyone uncomfortable. My client, Charlotte Bennett, reported his sexually harassing behavior immediately to his Chief of Staff and Chief Counsel,” Katz continued. “We are confident that they made him aware of her complaint and we fully expect that the Attorney General’s investigation will demonstrate that Cuomo administration officials failed to act on Ms. Bennett’s serious allegations or to ensure that corrective measures were taken.”

Debra Katz, attorney for accuser Charlotte Bennett, released this statement in response to Cuomo’s press conference: https://t.co/2NlbKBmLwS pic.twitter.com/eziUiOMYOm

— Sonia Moghe (@soniamoghe) March 3, 2021

Bennett, 25, told the New York Times in a piece published in February that Cuomo harassed her last spring. The former executive assistant and health policy adviser said she resigned in November after the governor asked her multiple questions about relationships and hugs.

“I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared,” Bennett said.

Cuomo at a party was photographed putting his hands on Ruch’s face. The expression on Ruch’s face captured how uncomfortable she said she was by the encounter. She said Cuomo upon meeting her had also placed his hand on her back — she was wearing a dress with an opening in the back — and that she had to remove his hand. 

New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has opened an investigation into the allegations, with Cuomo stating he planned on cooperating with James.

“I ask the people of this state to wait for the facts from the attorney general’s report before forming an opinion. Get the facts, please, before forming an opinion. And the attorney general is doing that review, I will fully cooperate with it, and then you will have the facts, and make a decision when you know the facts,” Cuomo said Wednesday.