Andrew Cuomo aide leaves COVID-19 task force amid sex-harass scandal
The aide whose wedding ceremony reception was the venue that led to a sexual-harassment allegation in opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo is leaving the state’s COVID-19 task force, he stated Wednesday.
Gareth Rhodes stated in a ready assertion that he’s returning to his place as deputy superintendent and particular counsel to the state Department of Financial Services.
“Last week as I approached one year since moving to Albany to join the NYS Covid task force, I decided it was time, given the progress of the vaccination program and continued decline of Covid numbers, to return to my previous role at the Department of Financial Services and I informed the Governor’s senior staff at the time,” Rhodes’ assertion stated.
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The transfer got here simply days after Anna Ruch, 33, grew to become the third lady to accuse Cuomo, 63, of sexual harassment.
It additionally got here shortly earlier than Cuomo was anticipated to hold his first news conference for the reason that scandal erupted final week.
Rhodes has frequently been among the many Cuomo administration officers to hitch the governor at his briefings.
In a narrative revealed Monday, Ruch informed The New York Times that Cuomo got here on to her, grabbed her face and kissed her on the cheek after officiating on the 2019 wedding ceremony of Rhodes and Alexa Kissinger, a former White House staffer for then-President Barack Obama.
A photograph of the incident reveals Cuomo towering over Ruch as he held her head with each arms and she or he checked out him with apprehension contained in the Manhattan restaurant Toro.Kissinger expressed help for Ruch, a fellow Obama staffer, following her revelations.
“This pattern of behavior is completely unacceptable,” Kissinger tweeted.
“I am so proud of @annaruch for sharing her story.”
