Chris Cuomo was part of his brother's 'inner circle' called in to do damage control on sexual harassment claims and was 'provided with confidential info about state operations'
- Andrew Cuomo 'actively consulted' younger brother Chris Cuomo and several confidantes with no official role in the Executive Chamber, report reveals
- Investigators found the CNN anchor was part of Cuomo's inner circle of advisers who urged him to 'express contrition' after allegations emerged in February
- The bombshell report states 'they were regularly provided with confidential and often privileged information about state operations'
- Chris Cuomo, 50, was forced to apologize in May after admitting to taking part in official calls advising brother Andrew during the scandal
- The governor gave a pre-recorded televised address an hour after Letitia James released her bombshell report Tuesday
- He says the report is false and that he never inappropriately touched any of the women who say he did
- He specifically denied the claim of a staffer who says he groped her breast in his mansion in November 2020
- Cuomo also singled out Charlotte Bennett, a former aide who says he quizzed her on being assaulted
Chris Cuomo was part of an 'inner circle' of advisers brought in to do damage control in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations against his brother, a bombshell report into the New York governor's misconduct reveals.
The CNN presenter was one of a dozen other confidantes called in to help 'control and direct the response' to the claims, despite none being employed by the State of New York.
The investigation found Chris and other advisers counseled Governor Andrew Cuomo to 'express contrition' after the allegations from Charlotte Bennett, the second accuser to come forward, emerged in February.
The governor ultimately took his brother's advice and issued a press release on February 27 saying he did not 'intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.'
The 168-page report released by Attorney General Letitia James's office Tuesday confirms previous reports about Chris's involvement in the scandal for which he was forced to apologize.
Chris Cuomo was part of an 'inner circle' of advisers brought in to do damage control in the wake of the sexual harassment allegations against his brother, according to a bombshell report into Andrew Cuomo's misconduct
The investigation found Chris and other advisers counseled Governor Andrew Cuomo to 'express contrition' after the allegations from Charlotte Bennett (pictured) the second accuser to come forward, emerged in February
The investigation, which took five months to complete, concluded that Cuomo engaged in a 'disturbing' pattern of conduct and created a 'toxic' workplace environment.
The 63-year-old is said to have groped, kissed, or made sexually suggestive remarks to at least 11 women who were aged in their 20s and 30s.
According to the report, investigators also found it 'revealing and consistent with the Executive Chamber's overall approach' that Cuomo's inner circle of advisers 'included a number of individuals with no official role in the Executive Chamber.'
Among those involved were PR consultant Jefrey Pollock, who was hired by Cuomo for public relations work, Democrat PR strategist Lis Smith, former staffer Steve Cohen, and Linda Lacewell, who was known as Cuomo's 'enforcer.'
'Some had never served in the Executive Chamber, and others, like Mr. Cohen, had not served there in a decade. None of them was officially retained in any capacity by the Executive Chamber or any of the individuals involved,' the report states.
'Nonetheless, they were regularly provided with confidential and often privileged information about state operations and helped make decisions that impacted State business and employees - all without any formal role, duty, or obligation to the State.'
Chris, 50, was also brought in even though his only credentials appear to be being related to Cuomo and working in the media.
Cuomo, who has always denied the allegations, gave a televised address an hour after James's report was released during which he denied all of the claims and called the report a political attack on his character
Report states investigators found it 'revealing and consistent with the Executive Chamber's overall approach' that the inner circle of advisers brought in 'included a number of individuals with no official role in the Executive Chamber'
Despite not being employed by the State, Cuomo's advisers were 'regularly provided with confidential and often privileged information about state operations'
Emails show Chris also apparently helped draft a written statement characterizing Andrew as someone who is 'playful' and 'makes jokes' sometimes
The report cites internal documents and communications obtained during the investigation which show that 'the governor's advisors, including Mr Pollock and Chris Cuomo, counseled him to express contrition after the press published Ms. Bennett's allegations.'
Emails show Chris also apparently helped craft a response by drafting a written statement characterizing Andrew as someone who is sometimes 'playful' and 'makes jokes'.
The news anchor came under fire in May after admitting that he had been 'looped into calls' on how his high-profile brother should handle the allegations, on his primetime CNN show.
Some of Chris' staffers were also on the phone at the time.
The revelation drew harsh criticism from his own colleague Jake Tapper, who accused Chris of putting network employees in 'a bad spot' and said he couldn't 'imagine a world in which anybody in journalism thinks that that was appropriate.'
The younger Cuomo later apologized for his behavior and acknowledged he had made a 'mistake.'
'I understand why that was a problem for CNN. It will not happen again. It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that. I would never intend for that and I am sorry for that,' he said at the time.
'I love my brother. I love my family. I love my job, and I love and respect my colleagues here at CNN. And again, to them I am truly sorry.'
Charlotte Bennett, 35, claimed that in June 2020, when she was alone with Cuomo he told her he was open to a relationship with a much younger woman.
Cuomo supposedly complained that he 'can't even hug anyone' during the pandemic and said: 'No, I mean, like really hugged somebody?'
Bennett told the New York Times: 'I understood that the governor wanted to sleep with me, and felt horribly uncomfortable and scared.'
On February this year, the day when the story was published, Cuomo released a press release saying he did not 'intend to act in any way that was inappropriate.'
The next day, he issued another press release saying that he 'never intended to offend anyone or cause any harm.'
The report states that during his testimony to investigators, Chris Cuomo said there was 'discussion about remedial measures the (executive) chamber should take in light of the sexual harassment allegations, but some people had taken the position that 'they should just wait.'
In May Chris said he is 'truly sorry' and admits he crossed the line taking part in strategy calls advising his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo through his sex-pest scandal
The governor made numerous appearances on his own brother's show last year, for lighthearted interviews that featured brotherly banter
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The 168-report was released on Tuesday after a five month investigation by the NY AG. It substantiated the allegations of 11 women who say Cuomo sexually harassed them either by groping them or making inappropriate comments dating back to 2013
The report does not explain if Chris Cuomo's advice to his brother was born of efforts to make his brother feel contrition or if it was a strategic move to help him survive the scandal.
Previous reports in the Washington Post painted a different picture and said that Chris Cuomo urged his brother to take up a 'defiant' position amid calls for his resignation.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announcing her findings on Tuesday after a five month investigation. She said she believes all of the women but she cannot bring criminal charges, instead saying her focus was on determining if the allegations were true
Chris Cuomo supposedly brought up 'cancel culture' and encouraged his brother to stand his ground.
DailyMail.com has approached CNN for comment.
Cuomo responded to the Attorney General's report in a televised address Tuesday saying the 'facts are much different than what has been portrayed'.
He said: 'I want you to know that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances…
'...that is just not who I am and that's not who I have ever been'.
Cuomo said he'd never sexually harass anyone, much less a sexual assault survivor like Charlotte Bennett - claiming he has helped a female relative overcome sexual abuse himself.
He said that the women invariably misinterpreted his 'warm' gestures like hugs and kisses, or misunderstood compliments.
After he spoke, critics renewed calls for him to resign and some suggested he should be impeached.
The women who've accused Gov Andrew Cuomo of harassment
Lindsay Boylan, 36
Former aide Lindsay Boylan, 36, was the first woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment in a Medium post on February 24. She claimed that the governor asked her to play strip poker and kissed her on the lips without her permission when she worked for him in 2017.
Lindsay Boylan, 36
Charlotte Bennett, 25
Charlotte Bennett, 25, came forward a few days after Boylan and claimed that Cuomo sexually harassed her last June while she was working as a health policy adviser in his administration at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.
Bennett accused Cuomo of 'grooming' her and asking inappropriate questions about her sex life.
She also claimed that he told her he was open to dating women in their 20s.
BENNETT said the governor asked her about her love life - including whether she ever had sex with older men - and talked about his own, saying that age differences didn't matter in relationships and he was open to dating women over 22.
During a meeting alone in his office, the governor said he was lonely and talked about wanting to hug someone, Bennett said.
She said she swiftly complained to Cuomo's chief of staff and was transferred to another job.
She said she spoke to a lawyer for the governor, but didn´t insist on further action because she liked her new post and wanted to move on.
Charlotte Bennett, 25
Anna Ruch, 33
Anna Ruch was the third woman to accuse Cuomo of sexual harassment and the only one thus far who did not work with him in a professional capacity. She claimed that Cuomo put his hands on her face and asked if he could kiss her just moments after they met at a September 2019 wedding in Manhattan.
Anna Ruch, 33
Ana Liss, 35
Ana Liss, 35, a former aide, said Cuomo asked her whether she had a boyfriend, once kissed her hand at her desk and called her by patronizing names, including 'blondie,' 'sweetheart' and 'honey.'
At a reception, the governor hugged her then put his arm around her lower back and waist as they posed for photo, Liss said.
She said she eventually asked for a job transfer. In an interview, Liss said she was 'not claiming sexual harassment per se,' but felt the administration 'wasn't a safe space for young women to work.'
Liss, who previously served as Cuomo's policy and operations aide between 2013 and 2015, told the Wall Street Journal that during her time in his administration, the governor had subjected her to unsolicited advances, including touching her lower back, kissing her hand and quizzing her about her love life.
Ana Liss, 35
Karen Hinton, 62
The oldest allegations against Cuomo came from Karen Hinton, who served as a press aide for him when he led the US Department of Housing and Urban Development two decades ago and she was a consultant for the agency. Hinton told the Washington Post about a 2000 incident when she said Cuomo summoned her to his 'dimly lit' hotel room and embraced her after a work event. She said she tried to pull away from Cuomo when he pulled her back and held her before she managed to escape the room.
Karen Hinton, 62
Unnamed sixth accuser
The most damning allegations leveled against Cuomo to date came from a sixth accuser, whose name has not been released.
The accuser, who is a member of Cuomo's staff, alleged that he closed a door, reached under her blouse and fondled her after summoning her to the governor's mansion in Albany for help with his cellphone, according to the Times Union of Albany.
It first reported on her accusation last month; she then gave more detail in her first interview on the matter, published Wednesday.
The woman spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, although her identity is known within the governor´s circle, the Times Union reported.
The woman, an executive assistant, told the Times Union the governor gave her kisses on the cheek and inappropriately tight hugs for years and made remarks including, 'If you were single, the things that I would do to you' and 'I'm single and ready to mingle.'
Then, one day in November, she was summoned to his Executive Mansion office to help him with a cellphone problem, she said.
He got up from his desk, started groping her and told her 'I don't care' after she tried to deflect him by saying he was going to get them into trouble, and then he slammed the door, she said.
Then he reached under her blouse and clutched one of her breasts over her bra, she told the newspaper.
The woman told a colleague this winter about the alleged encounter, and the co-worker told a supervisor in early March, according to the newspaper.
Cuomo called the report 'gut-wrenching' in a March statement and said: 'I have never done anything like this.'
Another female aide, who has remained anonymous, claimed he called her to his Executive Mansion last year, reached under her blouse and fondled her
Jessica Bakeman
Jessica Bakeman claimed in a first-person article for New York Magazine that she was sexually harassed by Cuomo on several occasions since the start of her journalism career in 2012.
Bakeman added her voice as the seventh accuser as she detailed inappropriate touching by the governor as he continued to deny all of the claims.
'He took my hand, as if to shake it, then refused to let go,' Bakeman wrote of an interaction with Cuomo as she said goodnight at a holiday party in 2014 when she was only 25 years old.
'He put his other arm around my back, his hand on my waist, and held me firmly in place while indicating to a photographer he wanted us to pose for a picture.'
At the time Bakeman had been working for what is now Politico New York and claimed that red flags went up as her 'job was to analyze and scrutinize him'.
'I didn't want a photo of him with his hands on my body and a smile on my face,' she wrote.
Jessica Bakeman, a reporter who once covered the Cuomo administration, was the seventh woman to come forward with claims of harassment
'But I made the reflexive assessment that most women and marginalized people know instinctively, the calculation about risk and power and self-preservation. I knew it would be far easier to smile for the brief moment it takes to snap a picture than to challenge one of the most powerful men in the country.'
In an earlier 2012 incident while she was working for USA Today, Bakeman also claims that Cuomo kept her pinned to his side as he told a story to her male colleagues.
'He left it there, and kept me pinned next to him, for several minutes as he finished telling his story,' she said. 'I stood there, my cheeks hot, giggling nervously as my male colleagues did the same. We all knew it was wrong, but we did nothing.'
The reporter, who now works in Florida, claimed that Cuomo 'never let me forget I was a woman' as she also alleged that he made frequent attempts to humiliate her, including calling out her purple phone instead of answering her question during a press gaggle.
Alyssa McGrath, 33
McGrath, a current administrative assistant in Cuomo's office, told The New York Times that he looked down her shirt, quizzed her about her marital status, and told her she was beautiful, using an Italian phrase she had to ask her parents to interpret.
McGrath didn't say the governor made sexual contact with her but thought his behavior was sexual harassment.
She recalled Cuomo kissing her on the forehead and gripping her firmly around the sides while posing for a photo at a 2019 office Christmas party.
Alyssa McGrath (pictured) is one of two aides who have come forward to accuse the governor of harassment
Sherry Vill, 55
Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct during a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred on Monday.
She alleges Cuomo grabbed her face and kissed her 'aggressively and in a sexual manner' on both cheeks in May 2017 while he was touring her home in Greece, near Rochester, as he inspected local flood damage.
Vill, who said she felt uncomfortable at the time, shared an image her daughter took on the day that showed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek and her attorney held up multiple photos showing the Governor inside her home.
The same photos appear on Cuomo's Flickr account, as well as multiple others that show him kissing and greeting residents as he toured the town.
None of the women in the other photos have accused the governor of inappropriate behavior or wrongdoing.
Sherry Vill, 55, accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct on Monday. Vill, who said she felt uncomfortable at the time, shared an image her daughter took on the day that showed Cuomo holding her face as he kissed her cheek
