Cuomo denies sexual harassment allegations: ‘I didn’t do anything wrong’

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is flatly denying he engaged in sexual misconduct as he faces an investigation following accusations from several women who say he harassed them or made them feel uncomfortable. 

“The report can’t say anything different,” Cuomo said on Tuesday, “because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

The governor’s remarks came during a rare in-person briefing with reporters in upstate New York as Cuomo has mostly stuck to virtual press events and coronavirus response briefings in the wake of the allegations.

Cuomo faces an investigation from the state’s attorney general office that was sparked by several sexual harassment accusations made over the past few months. 

One unnamed woman, in an interview with the Times Union, earlier this month described an alleged groping incident at the governor’s mansion in Albany. 

“I remember exactly what I was wearing,” the woman reportedly said. “I remember him slamming [the door] so hard that I remember thinking to myself that I’m sure the staff is, like, ‘Is everything OK up there?’ He came right back and he pulled me close and all I remember is seeing his hand, his big hand. I remember looking down like, ‘Holy s—.’ “

Cuomo has denied ever touching anyone “inappropriately.” 

The third-term Democrat has faced scrutiny over several other matters unrelated to the sexual harassment allegations, including claims he used state resources to write and publish a book about the state’s coronavirus response and a scandal relating to the manipulation of state nursing homes COVID-19 infection and deaths data during the pandemic. 

A number of journalists have criticized the governor for a lack of interaction with media as the scandals swirl and investigations into his administration continue.