Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) has called for an independent investigation led by the attorney general on allegations of sexual misconduct by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Over the weekend, a second woman emerged with allegations of sexual misconduct against the politician: said Charlotte Bennett, a 25-year-old former aide He New York News that Cuomo, 63, had often asked him about his sex life and asked him if he had “ever been with an old man.” Bennett appeared after former state economic development official Lindsey Boylan said the governor had harassed her on several occasions between 2016 and 2018, including giving her an unwanted kiss on the lips at her office. Manhattan. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Sunday that the claims needed to be investigated. “The detailed accounts of Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett about sexual harassment by Governor Cuomo are extremely serious and painful to read,” he tweeted. “There must be an independent investigation, not led by a person selected by the governor, but by the attorney general’s office.” Cuomo has denied the allegations.
On Sunday, Beth Garvey, Cuomo’s special advisor and senior advisor, issued a statement following AOC’s public demands. He wrote that the governor’s office “wants to do a review of sexual harassment claims made against the governor in an impeccable manner.” He then said that although they had selected former federal judge Barbara Jones, they had now decided to change their strategy “to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence from political interference”. The office then asked the New York State Attorney General and the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals to “jointly select an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a review. exhaustive of the matter and issue a public report. ”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said Sunday in a statement: “Allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously. There must be a truly independent investigation to thoroughly review these troubling allegations against the governor, and I am willing to oversee this investigation and make the necessary appointments. ”