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Latest harassment claim against Cuomo referred to police as New York Mayor calls him ‘disgusting’

Governor accused of groping aide at executive mansion

Graeme Massie
Thursday 11 March 2021 20:18 GMT
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Cuomo Denies Inappropriate Touching Of Female Aide
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The latest harassment claim made against Andrew Cuomo has been referred to police as New York City’s mayor branded him “disgusting.”

The state’s governor has been accused of groping an unidentified female aide at the Executive Mansion, where he lives in Albany, New York.

Now Albany police say that they have received a report on the alleged incident from a state official, according to the New York Times.

A spokesman for the police department, Steve Smith, told the newspaper that it had not received a formal complaint from the alleged victim, but had reached out to her.

Mr Smith said that this did not mean that the department had opened a formal investigation, but had contacted the alleged victim “as we would do with any other report or incident.”

Mr Cuomo’s acting counsel, Beth Garvey, said she had called the police herself to report the allegation after a lawyer for the alleged victim said the aide did not want to file a report.

“As a matter of state policy, when allegations of physical contact are made, the agency informs the complainant that they should contact their local police department,” said Ms Garvey in a statement.

“If they decline, the agency has an obligation to reach out themselves and inform the department of the allegation.

“In this case, the person is represented by counsel and when counsel confirmed the client did not want to make a report, the state notified the police department and gave them the attorney’s information.”

While the aide has not made a formal complaint, the allegation has been forwarded to the New York attorney general who is investigating the claims made against Mr Cuomo.

The allegation was made public after Mr Cuomo denied that he had ever touched a women inappropriately and he has denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has called on Mr Cuomo to resign following the claims of harassment by six women.

“It is disgusting to me, and he can no longer serve as governor,” said the mayor, a frequent critic of Mr Cuomo.

And he added: “The specific allegation that the governor called an employee of his, someone who he had power over, called them to a private place and then sexually assaulted her is absolutely unacceptable to me.”

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