Editing Andrew Cuomo (section)

==Sexual harassment scandal==
On December 13, 2020, Lindsey Boylan, a former aide for Cuomo who was a Democratic candidate for Manhattan Borough president in 2021, alleged "[Cuomo] sexually harassed me for years. Many saw it, and watched." Boylan further alleged that Cuomo "exists without ethics", "takes advantage of people, including me" and ran a "toxic team environment".<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/13/ex-cuomo-staffer-accuses-governor-of-sexually-harassing-her-for-years-he-denies-it.html Former Cuomo staffer accuses NY governor of sexually harassing her for years – he denies it], ''CNBC''</ref>

A spokesperson for the Cuomo administration denied the accusation. Boylan further elaborated on her accusations in February 2021, claiming Cuomo goaded her to play strip poker with him while on a flight in 2017 and forcibly kissed her on the mouth in his Manhattan office. The governor's office said Boylan's claims were false.<ref>[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/nyregion/cuomo-lindsey-boylan-harassment.html Ex-Aide Details Sexual Harassment Claims Against Gov. Cuomo], ''The New York Times''</ref>

On February 27, 2021, Charlotte Bennett, an executive assistant and health policy advisor of Cuomo, also accused him of sexual harassment, saying that he asked her about her sex life on several occasions in late Spring 2020 and if she had been in sexual relationships with older men. She also suggested that Cuomo was open to relationships with women "above the age of 22".<ref>[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/27/nyregion/cuomo-charlotte-bennett-sexual-harassment.html Cuomo Is Accused of Sexual Harassment by a 2nd Former Aide], ''The New York Times''</ref> In a statement on February 27, Cuomo denied making advances to Bennett and acting inappropriately towards her.

In a February 28 statement, Cuomo said: "I now understand that my interactions may have been insensitive or too personal and that some of my comments, given my position, made others feel in ways I never intended." He apologized and acknowledged "some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation." He also said, "At work sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny. I mean no offense and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business."

The two U.S. Senators for New York, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, called for an independent investigation. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a CNN interview that President Joe Biden supported an independent investigation into Governor Cuomo's conduct.

On March 1, a third woman came forward alleging Cuomo had sexually harassed her and touched her without consent on her bare lower back. Anna Ruch was not on the governor's staff, but encountered him socially at a wedding reception in September 2019. The Attorney General of New York state, Letitia James, was reported to be investigating options for an independent investigation. When reporting the allegation, ''The New York Times'' also published a photograph from the event which showed Cuomo putting his hands on Ruch's face. She said the incident made her feel "uncomfortable and embarrassed".<ref>[https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/nyregion/cuomo-harassment-anna-ruch.html Cuomo Accused of Unwanted Advance at a Wedding: 'Can I Kiss You?'], ''The New York Times''</ref>

A fourth woman, Ana Liss, came forward on March 6 and alleged Cuomo touched her inappropriately on her lower back and kissed her hand.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/third-former-andrew-cuomo-aide-describes-inappropriate-workplace-treatment-11615081956 Cuomo Faces New Accusations of Inappropriate Behavior From Third Former Aide], ''The Wall Street Journal''</ref> That same day, Karen Hinton, a former consultant of Cuomo when he was leading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, alleged that in 2000 he had asked personal questions and inappropriately hugged her in his hotel room.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/cuomo-toxic-workplace/2021/03/06/7f7c5b9c-7dd3-11eb-b3d1-9e5aa3d5220c_story.html Cuomo's behavior created 'hostile, toxic' workplace culture for decades, former aides say], ''The Washington Post''</ref>

On March 1, 2021, Cuomo’s senior counsel and special adviser Beth Garvey instructed New York Attorney General Letitia James to proceed with an independent investigation of Cuomo. On March 8, James hired attorneys from two law firms (firstly Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, and secondly Vladeck, Raskin & Clark) to conduct an independent investigation of Cuomo.

On March 9, a sixth woman alleged that Cuomo inappropriately touched her at the governor's mansion. On April 7, the unnamed aide said that after she had been summoned to governor's mansion in November 2020, Cuomo allegedly rose from his desk and began groping her. After the aide told him it would get him in trouble, Cuomo then shut the door and said "I don't care." He then returned and groped one of her breasts under her bra by reaching under her blouse.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/new-york-albany-us-news-andrew-cuomo-5a76d71a4e8a600ef357a7387ebeb39e Cuomo aide says he slammed door shut before groping her], ''Associated Press''</ref> A month later she claimed that Cuomo told her to cover-up what had occurred. On August 8, she revealed her identity: Brittany Commisso.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/andrew-cuomo-investigation-brittany-commisso-speaks-out/ Executive assistant who accused Cuomo of groping speaks publicly for the first time: "The governor needs to be held accountable"], ''CBS News''</ref>

On March 11, 2021, the New York Assembly approved a separate impeachment investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations made against Cuomo.

On March 12, Kaitlin (last name unreported), who formerly worked for the governor's office, alleged that Cuomo had made her feel uncomfortable in various situations, with his comments, questions, requests, and invasions of her personal space.<ref>[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/andrew-cuomo-misconduct-allegations.html Andrew Cuomo's governorship has been defined by cruelty that disguised chronic mismanagement. Why was that celebrated for so long?], ''New York Magazine''</ref> She did not allege inappropriate touching or explicit sexual propositions. 

Also on March 12, journalist Jessica Bakeman alleged that Cuomo had sexually harassed her by touching her and making inappropriate comments. She wrote: "I never thought the governor wanted to have sex with me. It wasn’t about sex. It was about power. He wanted me to know that I was powerless".<ref>[https://www.syracuse.com/state/2021/03/cuomo-accused-of-more-inappropriate-behavior-it-wasnt-about-sex-it-was-about-power.html Cuomo accused of more inappropriate behavior: 'It wasn't about sex. It was about power.'], ''Syracuse''</ref>

On March 18, another journalist, Valerie Bauman, came forward. She said that Cuomo had made her feel uncomfortable, describing him staring at her, entering her personal space, offering her a job, and asking personal questions.<ref>[https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/the-claims-against-cuomo-a-look-at-the-womens-allegations/2936801/ The Claims Against Cuomo: A Look at the Women's Allegations], ''WNBC''</ref> Bauman also stated that Cuomo "never touched [her] inappropriately or said anything that [she] felt [she] could report to [her] boss".

On March 19, Alyssa McGrath, who was still working for Cuomo's office at the time, accused Cuomo of sexually harassing her by ogling her and making inappropriate comments.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/19/nyregion/alyssa-mcgrath-cuomo-harassment.html Cuomo Faces New Claims of Sexual Harassment From Current Aide], ''The New York Times''</ref> McGrath did not accuse Cuomo of inappropriate sexual contact. On March 29, Sherry Vill, a New York constituent whose flood-damaged house Cuomo had visited in May 2017, alleged that Cuomo had inappropriately kissed her twice during that visit.<ref>[https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/New-accuser-alleges-Cuomo-kissed-her-in-front-of-16060895.php Rochester-area woman alleges Cuomo kissed her in front of her family], ''Times Union''</ref>

The state-commissioned attorneys' five-month investigation resulted in a report released on August 3, 2021. This report concluded that in Cuomo's time in office, he sexually harassed 11 women: Boylan, Bennett, Ruch, Liss, an unnamed executive assistant (identified as Commisso by CBS News), Kaitlin, McGrath, event attendee Virginia Limmiatis, an unnamed New York State trooper and two unnamed state entity employees. The investigation concluded that Cuomo's behaviour included unwanted groping, kissing and sexual comments, and also found that Cuomo's office had engaged in illegal retaliation against Boylan for her allegation against him.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-gov-cuomo-sexually-harassed-multiple-women-investigation-finds-11628003894 New York Gov. Cuomo Sexually Harassed Multiple Women, Investigation Finds], ''The Wall Street Journal''</ref>

Cuomo responded to the report with a denial: "I never touched anyone inappropriately." The report generated public condemnation against the governor and heightened calls for him to resign. The release also prompted district attorneys for Manhattan, Nassau County, Westchester County and Albany County to pursue criminal investigations regarding his behavior.

On August 10, 2021 Cuomo announced he would step down as Governor of New York, effective in 14 days.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2021/08/10/972725388/new-york-governor-andrew-cuomo-resigns-amid-sexual-harassment-claims Andrew Cuomo To Resign After Investigation Finds He Sexually Harassed Multiple Women], ''NPR''</ref>

Later on, the lawyers refused to send Cuomo to prison, due to a lack of evidence.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/business-new-york-andrew-cuomo-albany-david-soares-7fb427f8bba47de711fbd556d4e5c782#:~:text=Hans%20Pennink%2CPool)-,ALBANY%2C%20N.Y.,drove%20former%20New%20York%20Gov.&text=The%20move%20had%20been%20expected,and%20intended%20to%20drop%20it. Judge dismisses sole criminal charge against Andrew Cuomo], ''Associated Press''</ref>