One of the two women who have accused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment attacked her “predatory behavior” on Monday and asked other women to come forward if they had similar complaints about him.
Charlotte Bennett’s request came when New York Attorney General Letitia James said Cuomo’s office had formally requested an independent investigation into the allegations of Bennett and another former aide, Lindsey Boylan.
“For anyone who needs to hear this, know that I also have room for you,” Bennett said in a statement. “To the governor’s survivors: I’m here. Lindsey is here.”
“You don’t have to say a single word. But if you decide to tell your truth, we’ll be with you. I promise.”
Bennett has retained a leading labor discrimination lawyer, Debra Katz, who in her own statement said Bennett “will cooperate fully with the attorney general’s investigation.”
“We are confident that no disinterested investigator reviewing this evidence would adopt the autonomous characterization of their behavior by the governor as tutoring or, in the worst case, unwanted flirtation,” Katz said. “He didn’t mentor and his Mrs. Bennett didn’t misunderstand his claims.”
“He abused his power over her to have sex. This is sexual harassment in textbooks.”
James, in a statement to his authority on the investigation, said in a statement: “This is not a responsibility we take lightly, as allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously.”
Bennett, in his statement, said Cuomo “has refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for his predatory behavior.”
“As we know, abusers, especially those with an enormous amount of power, are often repeat offenders who engage in manipulative tactics to lessen allegations, blame victims, deny wrongdoing, and escape the consequences,” he said.
Bennett noted that “the governor needed 24 hours and a significant reaction to allow for a truly independent investigation” after his allegations were made public Saturday in a New York Times article.
“It’s not the actions of someone who just feels misunderstood; it’s the actions of an individual exercising their power to avoid justice,” Bennett said.
Cuomo over the weekend suggested for the first time that Bennett and Boylan’s allegations be investigated by a former federal judge who previously worked with the governor’s top adviser.
Cuomo then pivoted, and his office suggested that James and Chief Justice Judith Kaye, who heads the state’s highest court, jointly oversee the investigation.
James refused to share supervision. And the governor’s office, which was dealing with a growing political backlash from both the accusations and their machinations trying to control the investigation, agreed to ask the attorney general to take charge of the investigation.
Bennett said that in presenting his account, “I hoped to be attacked by those who reflexively question the honesty or motivation of those who denounce sexual harassment. I am not deterred by these voices.”
He also said that “moving forward was an intriguing decision. I decided to share my story because I had the faith that would support me and believe me. It’s often not like that.”
“Sharing my experience was only possible because of past survivors who stood up and told their stories. I hope my story helps other survivors feel that they can stay true to themselves.”
CNBC has requested comments from Cuomo’s office.
A letter of remission from Cuomo’s office to James on Monday granted him the request that Bennett and Boylan’s lawsuits be investigated by a private attorney or lawyers replaced by the attorney general.
The letter from Cuomo’s special counsel, Beth Garvey, said the findings of this investigation “will be revealed in a public report.”
The letter also said that “due to the nature of this review,” the governor’s office will not approve or send weekly reports that would normally be expected under state law authorizing the attorney general to replace external attorneys for this research.
“All New York State employees have been instructed to cooperate fully with this review,” Garvey wrote in the letter, which was published by James.
“I will serve as a point of contact for any witness interview or production of documents for the Executive Chamber and will connect you with the appropriate attorneys from any other agency or entity to obtain documents or witnesses needed for the review,” Garvey wrote. .
Bennett, 25, told The Times in an article published Saturday that Cuomo, 63, had asked him questions about whether he had “ever been with an older man,” whether he was monogamous in his relationships and other personal questions. which made them feel uncomfortable.
Boylan has said that Cuomo kissed her once without her consent and jokingly suggested playing poker on an official flight.
Cuomo has denied the allegations of Boylan, 36.
But in a statement released Saturday, the governor did not discuss Bennett’s claims about what he had said.
“I never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm. I spend most of my life at work and colleagues are often personal friends as well,” Cuomo said that day.
“At work, sometimes I think I’m playing and I make jokes that I think are funny. Sometimes I joke people the way I think is a good way,” the governor 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. I recognize that some of the things I’ve they have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent that someone felt that way, I really feel it. “
Cuomo also said, “To be clear, I never touched anyone inappropriately and I never proposed to anyone and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers they deserve answers “.