SIXTH woman accuses Cuomo of sexual harassment: Female aide claimed NY governor touched her inappropriately in his executive mansion last year when she had been summoned for work

TWO more former aides to Gov Cuomo accuse him of sexual misconduct: One says she was summoned to a 'dimly lit hotel where he held her in an embrace' and another says he 'kissed her hand

• The female aide claimed Gov Cuomo touched her inappropriately during an encounter at his executive mansion last year when she was summoned for work 
• The staffer has not been named and no other details of the alleged incident were immediately available 
• The complaint was reportedly made by other staffers in the Executive Chamber
• His office was made aware of the allegation over the weekend and reported it to the attorney general's office, which is leading the investigation
• When he first publicly addressed allegations made against him last week, Cuomo denied ever touching anyone inappropriately 

A sixth woman has accused New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment during an incident in his home last year - as one of his previous accusers claimed his office was 'toxic, retaliatory and hostile'. 
The female aide claimed Cuomo touched her inappropriately during an encounter at his executive mansion last year when she had been summoned for work, the Times Union reports. 
The staffer has not been named and no other details of the alleged incident were immediately available.

The complaint was reportedly made by other staffers in the Executive Chamber. 

His office was made aware of the allegation over the weekend and reported it to the attorney general's office, which is charge of the probe into the allegations made by five other women. 

The female aide claimed New York Gov Andrew Cuomo touched her inappropriately during an encounter at his executive mansion last year when she had been summoned for work

The complaint was reportedly made by other staffers in the Executive Chamber. The staffer has claimed Cuomo touched her inappropriately at his executive mansion in Albany last year 

'All allegations that we learn of directly or indirectly are going promptly to the investigators appointed by the attorney general,' Cuomo's acting counsel Beth Garvey said following the sixth allegation. 

When he first publicly addressed allegations made against him last week, Cuomo denied ever touching anyone inappropriately. 

'I want you to know this from me directly, I never touched anyone inappropriately,' he said during a press briefing. 

The latest allegation against Cuomo brings the total to six accusers. 

Two more former aides came forward over the weekend to accuse the Democrat of sexual misconduct.  

Ana Liss, 35, told The Wall Street Journal that when she worked as a policy aide to the governor between 2013 and 2015, Cuomo called her 'sweetheart,' once kissed her hand and asked personal questions, including whether she had a boyfriend. 

She said he sometimes greeted her with a hug and a kiss on both cheeks.

Liss said she initially thought of Cuomo's behavior as harmless, but it grew to bother her. She felt it was patronizing.

'It's not appropriate, really, in any setting,' she said. 'I wish that he took me seriously.'

Liss said she never made a formal complaint about the governor's behavior.  

Ana Liss, 35, (pictured left) previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015 but claims he subjected her to sexual misconduct during her time in his administration. Karen Hinton (right) claims the governor summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000 before she managed to escape

Charlotte Bennett, 25, worked as an aide for Cuomo. She claims he sexually harassed her and left her 'terrified'

Anna Ruch, 33, (left) claimed Cuomo behaved inappropriately at a Manhattan wedding in September 2019.  Lindsey Boylan, 36, (right) claims Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately, kissed her without her consent and went out of his way to touch her on her lower back, arms and leg

Karen Hinton, 62, spoke to the Washington Post on Saturday about about an incident in which Cuomo allegedly summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000. 

Hinton said that she tried to pull away from Cuomo but that he allegedly pulled her back and held her before she backed away and escaped the room. 

The governor's office quickly denied that the incident in the hotel room ever took place.  

Peter Ajemian, Cuomo's director of communications, told the Post that Hinton is a 'known antagonist of the Governor's who is attempting to take advantage of this moment to score cheap points with made up allegations from 21 years ago'.

'All women have the right to come forward and tell their story - however, it's also the responsibility of the press to consider self-motivation. This is reckless.' 

Cuomo's workplace conduct has been under intense scrutiny in recent days as several women have publicly told of feeling sexually harassed, or at least made to feel demeaned and uncomfortable by the Democrat. 

Former adviser Lindsey Boylan, 36, said he made inappropriate comments on her appearance, once kissed her on the lips at the end of a meeting and suggested a game of strip poker as they sat with other aides on a jet flight. 

Another former aide, Charlotte Bennett, 25, said Cuomo asked if she ever had sex with older men and made other comments she interpreted as gauging her interest in an affair. 

Anna Ruch, 33, who did not work for the state, described Cuomo putting his hands on her face and asking if he could kiss her after they met at a wedding. 

In a news conference last week, Cuomo denied ever touching anyone inappropriately but apologized for behaving in a way that he now realized had upset women he worked with. 

He said he'd made jokes and asked personal questions in an attempt to be playful and frequently greeted people with hugs and kisses, as his father, Mario Cuomo, had done when he was governor.

'I understand sensitivities have changed. Behavior has changed,' Cuomo said. 'I get it and I'm going to learn from it.'

The state's attorney general has hired an outside law firm to investigate the sexual harassment allegations. 

She has appointed Joon Kim, who was the acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York for parts of 2017 and 2018, and employment lawyer Anne Clark to conduct the probe.  

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Cuomo chokes up as he apologizes over sexual harassment claims but says he will NOT resign, insists he 'didn't touch anyone' and claims 'kissing people is my customary way of greeting'

• Two more former aides have come forward with allegations of inappropriate conduct by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
• Ana Liss, 35, served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015 
• She said the governor asked her if she had a boyfriend, touched her on the lower back during an event reception and kissed her on the hand, before she asked to move office
• Karen Hinton, 62, claims the governor summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000 before she managed to escape 
• She and Cuomo had previously argued while she worked for him and she called it a 'power play' 
• She became the fifth woman to make allegations against Cuomo on Saturday night 
• Charlotte Bennett, Lindsey Boylan and Anna Ruch all came forward this week
• Other aides are now speaking out about the 'toxic' work environment created by Cuomo
• Male aides said that they have been called 'p******' and told they 'have no balls' 
• Cuomo faced further calls to resign as the two new women spoke out, including a comment from his first accuser Lindsey Boylen who wrote 'resign you disgusting monster'

• Two more former aides of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, bringing the total number of accusers to five.    

  Ana Liss, 35, previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015. She told the Wall Street Journal on Saturday that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances.

  Liss claims it included asking her if she had a boyfriend, touching her on the lower back during an event reception and kissing her on the hand.

  Two more former aides of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo have publicly accused him of sexual misconduct, bringing the total number of accusers to five.    

  Ana Liss, 35, previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015. She told the Wall Street Journal on Saturday that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances.

  Liss claims it included asking her if she had a boyfriend, touching her on the lower back during an event reception and kissing her on the hand. 

  Also on Saturday, Karen Hinton, 62, spoke to the Washington Post about an incident in which Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000. 

  Hinton said that she tried to pull away from Cuomo, 63, but that he pulled her back and held her before she backed away and escaped the room. 

  As the women came forward with their stories on Saturday, other aides spoke to both the Journal and Post about the 'toxic' work environment created by Cuomo. 

  It included testimonies from two male aides who claimed the governor would berate them using explicit language, calling them 'p******' and saying that they 'have no balls'. 

  Liss and Hinton are the third and fourth former Cuomo aides to make claims of harassment against the governor as he faces further calls to resign amid the accusations. 

  

  

  Ana Liss, 35, (pictured left) previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015 but claims he subjected her to sexual misconduct during her time in his administration. Karen Hinton (right) claims the governor summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event in 2000 before she managed to escape

  

  Five women come forward with allegations of inappropriate conduct by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (pictured above)

  

  Charlotte Bennett, 25, worked as an aide for Cuomo. She claims he sexually harassed her and left her 'terrified'

  

  

  Anna Ruch, 33, (left) claimed Cuomo behaved inappropriately at a Manhattan wedding in September 2019.  Lindsey Boylan, 36, (right) claims Cuomo commented on her appearance inappropriately, kissed her without her consent and went out of his way to touch her on her lower back, arms and leg

  Charlotte Bennett, 25, revealed this week that Cuomo had questioned her about her sex life and whether she had relationships with older men. 

  Lindsey Boylan also revealed in a February Medium post that the governor had tried to kiss her on the lips in his office and suggested they play strip poker during a 2017 flight. Cuomo's office has said these claims are false. 

  A third accuser, Anna Ruch, 33, then came forward telling the New York Times that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her after meeting her at a September 2019 wedding. 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James is currently overseeing an investigation into Boylan and Bennett's claims and plans to hire an outside law firm to conduct the probe. 

  As Liss' allegations broke on Saturday night, Cuomo's other accusers voiced their support. 

  Bennett tweeted the story while Boylan wrote that she is 'very proud of Ana Liss' as she called on Cuomo to 'resign you disgusting monster'. 

  'She is brave and she speaks for me too,' Boylan said in a tweet. 'It's extremely destructive that our boss, the governor of New York, treated us this way'. 

  'Thank you Karen Hinton for courageously sharing your story of how our boss, one of the most powerful men in the country, used his power to abuse you,' she added when Hinton's story broke. 'I am sending you love. I am with you. We are with you.'

  

  Ana Liss, 35, (pictured) has claimed that she drank heavily while working for Cuomo between 2013 and 2015

  

  Liss (pictured center) joined Cuomo's office after winning a competitive fellowship in 2013

  

  Liss, pictured right, said that she was disappointed that Cuomo talked about her appearance instead of her work

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'I am truly sorry': Gov Cuomo admits making two women who claim he sexually harassed them feel 'uncomfortable' but shrugs it off as 'levity and banter'

• Cuomo held his first briefing for 9 days on Wednesday amid calls for him to resign
• He had not been seen in public since February 24 when he opened a vaccination site
• He apologized to his accusers, and said he never meant to cause them pain or make them feel uncomfortable
• He however insisted he 'never touched anyone inappropriately' and urged people to wait for the findings of the AG's investigation 
• Cuomo is refusing to step down, and said he will continue serving 'the people of New York' 
• He also said he would cooperate 'fully' with the AG's allegations 
• Two women who used to work for him have come forward with claims he made inappropriate comments
• One of those women says he kissed her on the lips without her consent 
• A third says he asked if he could kiss her when they met at a wedding 
• Cuomo on Wednesday said that like his father, the late Gov Mario Cuomo, that is he greets people affectionately 
• He said he would change that now, because 'sensibilities have changed'  

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Former Cuomo staffer pens detailed account of alleged sexual harassment

• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he 'never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm'
• 'I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny,' Cuomo said
• Cuomo said that he 'never inappropriately touched anybody' and 'never propositioned anybody'
• New York politicians on both sides of the aisle are speaking out against Andrew Cuomo after he was accused of sexual harassment by a second former aide
• Charlotte Bennett, 25, on Saturday said Cuomo told her he was open to dating women in their 20s and asked her questions about her personal life in June
• It comes after Lindsey Boylan, 36, claimed he asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017
• Cuomo, 63, said he 'never intended to act in any way that was inappropriate' with Bennett and his press secretary said Boylan's claims were 'false'
• The governor promised a review by former federal judge Barbara Jones  
• But many noted Jones had worked with Cuomo's close ally Steven M. Cohen
• Amid that mounting criticism his office said Sunday that James and DiFiore have been asked 'to jointly select an independent investigator'
• But James has demanded he refer the entire investigation to her with 'subpoena power', saying Sunday: 'I do not accept the governor's proposal'

• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said that he was 'truly sorry' and acknowledged he'd been 'insensitive' in response to sexual harassment claims against him.

  Cuomo, who has been accused of harassing two former aides, said on Sunday that he had 'never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm'. 

  He explained that he would often be 'playful and make jokes that I think are funny... (and) tease people in what I think is a good-natured way. I do it in public and in private. You have seen me do it at briefings hundreds of times.'

  The embattled governor, 63, said that his 'joking' was an attempt to add 'levity and banter' to 'serious business.'

  '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 said. 'I acknowledge some of the things I have said have been misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation. To the extent anyone felt that way, I am truly sorry about that.'

  Cuomo added: 'To be clear I never inappropriately touched anybody and I never propositioned anybody and I never intended to make anyone feel uncomfortable, but these are allegations that New Yorkers deserve answers to.'

  The New York governor's new statement came after New York Attorney General Letitia James  rejected his attempt to appoint his own investigator into the allegations. 

  

  Andrew Cuomo has said New York Attorney General Letitia James can take part in sexual harassment probe - but only if his ally Janet DiFiore works alongside her

  

  

  Charlotte Bennett, 25, (left) came out on Saturday and said Cuomo told her he was open to dating women in their 20s and asked her questions about her personal life in June. It comes after Lindsey Boylan, 36, (right) claimed he asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017

  Cuomo agreed James could handle the probe - but only if his ally, Judge Janet DiFiore, worked alongside her.

  But James has demanded he refer the entire investigation to her with 'subpoena power', saying: 'To clarify, I do not accept the governor's proposal. The state's Executive Law clearly gives my office the authority to investigate this matter once the governor provides a referral.

  'While I have deep respect for Chief Judge DiFiore, I am the duly elected attorney general and it is my responsibility to carry out this task, per Executive Law. The governor must provide this referral so an independent investigation with subpoena power can be conducted.' 

  Cuomo added that his office heard that people reached out to one of his accusers, Charlotte Bennett, 25, to 'express displeasure' at her claims. 

  'My message to anyone doing that is you have misjudged what matters to me and my administration and you should stop now - period,' Cuomo said. 

  Bennett is the second aide to level sexual harassment allegations at Cuomo. Days earlier Lindsey Boylan, 36, claimed he asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017.

  Cuomo said he 'never intended to act in any way that was inappropriate' with Bennett and his press secretary said Boylan's claims were 'false'.    

  He had promised a review of the allegations by former federal judge Barbara Jones - who was appointed by Bill Clinton - on Friday. Cuomo was in Clinton's cabinet as Housing and Urban Development secretary. 

  But that decision sparked outrage, with many noting Jones had also worked with Cuomo's close ally Steven M. Cohen, who has served as secretary to the governor.

  Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said Sunday: 'There must be an independent investigation — not one led by an individual selected by the Governor, but by the office of the Attorney General.' 

  Carl E. Heastie, the Assembly speaker, tweeted: 'I believe the Attorney General should make an appointment to ensure that it is a truly independent investigation.'

  Democratic state senator Liz Krueger said: 'With all due respect, you can't pick a federal judge who works with your good friend and decide that that's going to be the investigator.'

  Amid that mounting criticism his office said Sunday that James, who was independently elected, and DiFiore, who was appointed by Cuomo as chief judge of the state's Court of Appeals, have been asked 'to jointly select an independent investigator'. 

  But James rejected that offer. The governor's office didn't immediately comment. Under state law, the state attorney general needs a referral from the governor in order to investigate his conduct.

  It was James' office who last month examined the administration's failure to tally COVID-19 nursing home residents' deaths at hospitals. The state then acknowledged the total number of long-term care residents' deaths is nearly 15,000, up from the 8,500 previously disclosed. 

  

  Amid mounting criticism Cuomo's office said Sunday that James, pictured, who was independently elected, and DiFiore, who was appointed to the court by Cuomo, have been asked 'to jointly select an independent investigator'

  

  Janet DiFiore is pictured. Announcing the decision to ask AG James and DiFiore to probe the claims Beth Garvey, the top counsel to the governor, said Sunday: 'The Governor's Office wants a review of the sexual harassment claims made against the Governor to be done in a manner beyond reproach

  Second accuser Bennett said Saturday Cuomo told her he was open to dating women in their 20s and asked her questions about her personal life in June, at the height of the state's COVID-19 crisis. 

  Announcing the decision to ask AG James and DiFiore to probe her and Boylan's claims, Beth Garvey, the top counsel to the governor, said Sunday: 'The Governor's Office wants a review of the sexual harassment claims made against the Governor to be done in a manner beyond reproach.

  'We had selected former Federal Judge Barbara Jones, with a stellar record for qualifications and integrity, but we want to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence or inference of politics. 

  'Accordingly we have asked the Attorney General of New York State and the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals to jointly select an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a thorough review of the matter and issue a public report.

  'The work product will be solely controlled by that independent lawyer personally selected by the Attorney General and Chief Judge.' 

  AG James said Sunday: '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 stand ready to oversee that investigation and make any appointments necessary.' 

  A total of 25 lawmakers on Sunday backed the attorney general, saying: 'The governor's proposal to appoint someone who is not independently elected, has no subpoena authority and no prosecutorial authority is inadequate.'

  White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: There should be an independent review looking into these allegations.' She said that's something President Joe Biden supports 'and we believe should move forward as quickly as possible.' 

  New York state Sen Alessandra Biaggi late Saturday had branded Cuomo a 'monster' and called on him to resign as politicians on both sides of the aisle turn their backs on the governor. 

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'His inappropriate behavior toward women was an affirmation that he liked you.'

A former top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo first accused him of sexual harassment in December, now she alleges in new details that he touched her inappropriately and once kissed her on the lips. 

In an essay posted to Medium on Wednesday, Lindsey Boylan said after she was appointed to the role of Chief of Staff at New York’s state economic agency in 2015, Cuomo took an “uncomfortable” interest in her.

“My boss soon informed me that the Governor had a ‘crush’ on me,” she wrote, noting that the Director of the Governor’s Offices said that Cuomo suggested she “look up images of Lisa Shields — his rumored former girlfriend — because ‘we could be sisters’ and I was ‘the better looking sister.'”

“The Governor began calling me ‘Lisa’ in front of colleagues,” Boylan wrote. “It was degrading.”

She also claims Cuomo “would go out of his way to touch me on my lower back, arms and legs,” and once joked that they play strip poker. The kiss, per Boylan, happened after a private meeting with Cuomo in his New York City office.

“As I got up to leave and walk toward an open door, he stepped in front of me and kissed me on the lips. I was in shock, but I kept walking,” she said. “The idea that someone might think I held my high-ranking position because of the Governor’s ‘crush’ on me was more demeaning than the kiss itself.”

Boylan, who worked in Cuomo’s office from 2015 to 2018, said the governor “made unflattering comments about the weight of female colleagues… them about their romantic relationships and significant others,” and “said the reasons that men get women were ‘money and power.'”

Boylan wrote in her Medium essay that she decided to go public with her truth after learning that Cuomo was being considered for U.S. Attorney General. 

“Seeing his name floated as a potential candidate for U.S. Attorney General — the highest law enforcement official in the land — set me off,” she said. “In a few tweets, I told the world what a few close friends, family members and my therapist had known for years: Andrew Cuomo abused his power as Governor to sexually harass me, just as he had done with so many other women,” she wrote.

“I know some will brush off my experience as trivial. We are accustomed to powerful men behaving badly when no one is watching. But what does it say about us when everyone is watching and no one says a thing?”

Boylan, who is running for Manhattan Borough President, initially came forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Governor Cuomo in a Dec. 13 Twitter post, in which she said he “sexually harassed me for years.”  

The governor denied the accusations at the time. “It’s not true,” he said during a press conference. “I fought for and I believe a woman has the right to come forward and express her opinion and express issues and concerns that she has. But it’s just not true.”

In her Medium essay, Boylan said “Cuomo has created a culture within his administration where sexual harassment and bullying is so pervasive that it is not only condoned but expected.”

She added “His inappropriate behavior toward women was an affirmation that he liked you, that you must be doing something right. He used intimidation to silence his critics. And if you dared to speak up, you would face consequences.”

Caitlin Girouard, the governor’s press secretary, fired back at the essay on Wednesday, calling Boylan’s accusations “simply false.”

“As we said before, Ms. Boylan’s claims of inappropriate behavior are quite simply false,” Girouard said in a statement.