Gov. Cuomo plots his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it's revealed HE signed law that could see him face misdemeanor charge if he's found guilty in criminal sexual harassment case

  • The embattled governor lounged by the pool at the executive mansion this week as a woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed on a laptop
  • Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday
  • The report found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women - including nine state employees - and retaliating against one accuser
  • Cuomo is under criminal investigation in Albany after one of the women - who accused him of groping her breast - filed a report with police Thursday
  • Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and a potential misdemeanor charge 
  • Cuomo was responsible for signing the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment 
  • He signed a bill in 2019 for sweeping changes to workplace harassment protections as he sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been plotting his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it emerged he was responsible for signing a law that could trigger his own downfall. 

The embattled governor was seen lounging by the pool at the executive mansion earlier this week with a large notepad as a woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed away on a laptop.

Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report that found he had sexually harassed multiple women.

The report, released Tuesday, concluded that Cuomo violated state and federal laws by sexually harassing at least 11 women - including nine state employees - and retaliating against one accuser. 

The governor now faces a criminal investigation by the Albany County Sheriff's office after one of the women - who accused him of groping her breast at his executive mansion - filed a report with police. 

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in a press conference Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and that, based on the information available so far, he could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge. 

Now, it has emerged that Cuomo signed the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment as he publicly sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been plotting his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it emerged he was responsible for signing a law that could trigger his own downfall

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been plotting his future poolside at his Albany mansion as it emerged he was responsible for signing a law that could trigger his own downfall

The embattled governor was seen lounging by the pool at the executive mansion earlier this week with a large notepad

The embattled governor was seen lounging by the pool at the executive mansion earlier this week with a large notepad

A woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed away on a laptop

A woman believed to be his secretary Stephanie Benton typed away on a laptop

On August 12 2019, Cuomo signed a bill into law introducing sweeping changes to workplace harassment protections for victims vowing in a press briefing to 'actually change things.' 

'Let's honor all the women who have endured this humiliation,' he said at the time. 

'Let's honor the women who have had the courage to come forward to tell their stories – and let's actually change things.' 

The very next day, Cuomo allegedly harassed a female state trooper who he had handpicked to be part of his security detail even though she lacked the requisite experience.

'Why don't you wear a dress?' he allegedly asked the staffer on August 13, according to James' report.  

Cuomo signed the bill at a time that the world was reeling from the allegations against now-convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein and the instances of sexual harassment and assault brought to attention in the #MeToo movement. 

He had introduced the plan the previous year at a time when he was seeking re-election for his third term. He won re-election in November 2018.

As well as the timing of the alleged encounter and the new law, the legislation also enables his accusers to pursue complaints against him longer after the incidents happened. 

Among the changes in the law was the extension of the statute of limitations for sexual harassment claims in the workplace to be filed from one to three years. 

Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday
Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday

Cuomo has been in hiding at the executive mansion ever since New York Attorney General Letitia James released her damning report Tuesday

Now, it has emerged that Cuomo signed the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment as he publicly sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement

Now, it has emerged that Cuomo signed the very law that could see him face criminal charges for his alleged sexual harassment as he publicly sought to portray himself as an ally of the #MeToo movement

At least eight of the 11 women whose allegations were upheld in James' report said the alleged harassment took place after early October 2017. 

Now, under Cuomo's law extending the statute of limitations, the women can pursue criminal charges for incidents spanning the majority of this time period. 

The law also ends the legal requirement that sexual harassment be 'severe or pervasive' to be legally actionable and mandates that any employment NDAs allow employees to file harassment or discrimination complaints.  

Cuomo also made it 'unlawful' for companies to retaliate against any employee who complains of sexual harassment.

The AG's 165-page report found that the governor retaliated against one of his accusers - a violation of his own policy.  

Cuomo released a video responding to the report's findings Tuesday denying sexually harassing anyone

Cuomo released a video responding to the report's findings Tuesday denying sexually harassing anyone 

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in a press conference Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and that, based on the information available so far, he could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said in a press conference Saturday the criminal investigation could lead to the governor's arrest and that, based on the information available so far, he could be slapped with a misdemeanor charge

When Lindsey Boylan, a former state economic development official, became the first woman to come forward with allegations against Cuomo in December, the governor's office leaked her personnel record in an apparent attempt to discredit her.  

Cuomo has taken other actions in recent years to try to cement his image as a supporter of women's rights.

In September 2019, he signed a law extending the statute of limitations to 20 years for rape in the second degree and to 10 years for rape in the third degree and for a criminal sexual act in the third degree.  

He has also partnered with the TIME'S UP on numerous occasions and would tout his fatherhood to three girls as a personal reason for his support.  

Cuomo's attempts to boost his popularity with a public image that champions women's rights may now contribute to his downfall if he is found to have committed a crime as part of police investigations.  

A current aide who accused Cuomo of groping her breast at his executive mansion filed a criminal complaint against him Thursday.

Governor Andrew Cuomo is spotted walking his dog in the morning of August 7 outside his home in Albany

Governor Andrew Cuomo is spotted walking his dog in the morning of August 7 outside his home in Albany 

The embattled governor looked somber as he spoke on his cellphone during the walk
The embattled governor looked somber as he spoke on his cellphone during the walk

The embattled governor looked somber as he spoke on his cellphone during the walk 

The governor and his dog outside the executive mansion in Albany Saturday morning

The governor and his dog outside the executive mansion in Albany Saturday morning 

Cuomo has been holed up in the mansion all week since the damning report from the AG's office found he sexually harassed multiple women

Cuomo has been holed up in the mansion all week since the damning report from the AG's office found he sexually harassed multiple women 

Cuomo takes his pet dog for a walk. The executive mansion where he has been in hiding is the location of the alleged groping incident

Cuomo takes his pet dog for a walk. The executive mansion where he has been in hiding is the location of the alleged groping incident

The criminal report from the woman, known only as 'Executive Assistant #1' in James' damning report, is the first known instance where a woman has made an official report with a law enforcement agency over the alleged misconduct by Cuomo. 

Albany Sheriff Apple said in a press conference Saturday that his office was contacted by the woman's attorney Wednesday night saying she wanted to file an allegation of criminal conduct against the governor.

The accuser and her attorney then came in for an hour-long meeting Thursday where she filed a formal criminal report and the sheriff's office launched an investigation. 

'We've reached out to the attorney general's office requesting investigative material to go forward with our investigation and that's where we're at today,' said Apple.   

The next steps will involve investigators compiling the facts and carrying out interviews with the victim, he said, before deciding whether to move forward with any charges.      

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with the woman described as 'executive assistant one' in a photo included in New York Attorney General Letitia James' damning report. The woman has now filed a criminal complaint against him

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with the woman described as 'executive assistant one' in a photo included in New York Attorney General Letitia James' damning report. The woman has now filed a criminal complaint against him

Sheriff Apple said he 'commended' the woman for coming forward as he said the investigation was 'involving criminal conduct' and referred to the woman as 'a victim' multiple times

Sheriff Apple said he 'commended' the woman for coming forward as he said the investigation was 'involving criminal conduct' and referred to the woman as 'a victim' multiple times

'I'm not going to rush it because of who he is and I'm not going to delay it because of who he is,' he said. 

He added: 'We treat victims the same. We investigate the same. This one obviously just has more eyes on it.'    

He added that, while he couldn't yet say if it could lead to a misdemeanor or felony charge, 'from what I have read so far it is floating around a misdemeanor but that's just from the attorney general's report.' 

'Yes it could lead to an arrest and would our agency be affecting that arrest? Yes absolutely,' he said.  

The Cuomo aide who filed the police report has leveled one of the most damning accusations against the governor among all allegations brought by multiple women in recent months - an allegation that was upheld in James' report.  

The executive assistant accused Cuomo of reaching under her shirt and fondling her breast when they were alone together at the Executive Mansion on November 16 2020. 

Cuomo was deep in conversation on his cellphone as he continued to cling to power Saturday
Cuomo was deep in conversation on his cellphone as he continued to cling to power Saturday

Cuomo was deep in conversation on his cellphone as he continued to cling to power Saturday 

The governor continues to deny the allegations with his legal team holding a press conference Friday trying to discredit the alleged victims

The governor continues to deny the allegations with his legal team holding a press conference Friday trying to discredit the alleged victims 

She told investigators on James' team she was 'in such shock' as he 'cupped my breast' during the encounter. 

The aide also told investigators with the attorney general's office that Cuomo once rubbed her rear end while they were posing together for a photo. 

The alleged incident took place on December 31 2019 when Cuomo asked her to take a selfie of them as they worked together inside his office at the Executive Mansion.

As she held up the camera, Cuomo 'moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and began to rub it' for at least five seconds, the report alleges.

The assistant 'was shaking so much during this interaction' that the photos came out blurry — and Cuomo suggested the two sit down to take one more, the document says.

That photo, showing Cuomo smirking while he sits back on a couch with the aide, is included in the report. 

The woman told investigators she didn't report what had happened because she was 'terrified'. 

The District Attorneys of Manhattan, Albany and Westchester all opened criminal investigations into Cuomo's conduct earlier this week and urged women to come forward, following the release of James' investigative report Tuesday.  

Cuomo continues to deny all of the allegations leveled against him and is refusing to stand down despite mounting calls for his resignation from former Democrat allies and the impending outcome of an impeachment probe.   

The governor's legal team tried to discredit the aide's allegations in a press conference Friday afternoon - from which Cuomo was absent.    

New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a news conference Tuesday announcing her investigation found he sexually harassed multiple women

New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaks at a news conference Tuesday announcing her investigation found he sexually harassed multiple women

Cuomo's lawyer Rita Glavin said the groping allegation was fabricated.

'He is 63 years old. He has spent 40 years in public life and for him to all of the sudden be accused of a sexual assault of an executive assistant that he really doesn't know, doesn't pass muster,' Glavin said. 

Calls for Cuomo's resignation or impeachment soared this week after James released the report.   

Investigators corroborated numerous allegations from multiple women ranging from inappropriate comments to forced kisses and groping, the report found.    

Senior Democrats including Joe Biden Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Chuck Schumer have all urged Cuomo to resign.  

State lawmakers are now moving toward a likely impeachment proceeding over the allegations.

Lawyers working for the state Assembly sent a letter to Cuomo Thursday giving him until August 13 to respond to the allegations against him or provide documents to bolster his defense.

The state Assembly's judiciary committee plans to meet Monday to discuss the possibility of impeachment proceedings. 

A majority of members of the legislative body have already said they favor an impeachment trial if he won't resign.  

The ELEVEN women from NY Attorney General's sex-pest report on Cuomo 

State Trooper #1  

Cuomo is accused of sexually harassed a state trooper, referred to in the report as Trooper #1, who he hired onto his protective detail in 2017 - bending the three-year experience requirement.

Although she had only completed two years on the force, the governor reportedly wanted the unnamed trooper in his inner circle. 

He is said to have asked a senior member of his security detail to add her to the team even though she did not meet the standard requirement.

'Ha ha, they changed the minimum from 3 years to 2 just for you,' the senior security member told the trooper in an email, which was included in the AG's report.

Once she was on his team, he allegedly harassed her on a number of occasions, including one where he ran his hand across her stomach from her belly button to her right hip while she was holding the door open for him at an event.

'I felt...completely violated because to me...that's between my chest and my privates,' the trooper said, according to Business Insider. 

'But, you know, I'm here to do a job.' 

He also ran is accused 'running his finger down her back' while they were in an elevator together and saying 'hey you', and kissing her on the cheek in front of another trooper.

'I remember just freezing, being - in the back of my head, I'm like, oh, how do I say no politely because in my head if I said no, he's going to take it out on the detail. And now I'm on the bad list,' the trooper said.

Cuomo also allegedly asked her to help him find a girlfriend and said he wanted someone who 'liked pain', and asked her why she wanted to get married, saying 'your sex drive goes down'.

'Trooper #1 found these interactions with the Governor not only offensive and uncomfortable, but markedly different from the way the Governor interacted with members of the PSU who were men, and she conveyed these incidents contemporaneously to colleagues,' the report reads.

The trooper said she was afraid of being retaliated against if she were to speak out against the behavior. 

The State Troopers Police Benevolent Association said in a statement on Tuesday that it was 'dismayed and disturbed' by the findings.

Tom Mungeer, president of the association, said: 'I'm outraged and disgusted that one of my members, who was tasked with guarding the governor and ensuring his safety, could not enjoy the same sense of security in her work environment that he was provided.'

State Entity Employee #2

A doctor says she was sexually harassed while administering a televised COVID-19 test to Cuomo.

The doctor who administered a COVID-19 test to Cuomo she was sexually harassed during the incident.

On May 17, 2020 Cuomo told the medic, in front of cameras 'nice to see you doctor, you make that gown look good'.

The doctor, who appeared in full PPE gear, did not respond to his comment.

Cuomo is accused of sexually harassing the medic while she administered him a COVID-19 test in front of cameras

Cuomo is accused of sexually harassing the medic while she administered him a COVID-19 test in front of cameras

Cuomo allegedly made comments towards the medic that were sexual in nature. He said: 'Nice to see you doctor, you make that gown look good'

Cuomo allegedly made comments towards the medic that were sexual in nature. He said: 'Nice to see you doctor, you make that gown look good'

The report also claims that before the test, Cuomo asked her not to swab him so hard that it 'hit his brain'. 

She replied that she'd be 'gentle but accurate' and he said 'I've heard that before,' which the doctor said was 'implied in a sexual nature'.

The medic considered the interaction to be sexual harassment and investigators agreed.  

Another unnamed 'state entity employee' 

The unidentified employee, identified in the report as 'State Entity Employee #1,' said she attended an event with Cuomo in September 2019.

After giving a speech, Cuomo is said to have posed for pictures with her. While the picture was being taken, he 'grabbed her butt'.

'The employee was shocked and discussed it with a number of friends, family and co-workers,' the report says.

She also 'memorialized the Governor's inappropriate touching' contemporaneously, but the report doesn't say how. 

'Executive Assistant One'

Cuomo is accused of groping an executive assistant, whose identity remains anonymous, at an event last November after routinely engaging in a pattern of impropriate conduct that began in late 2019.

The report includes photos of Cuomo with women - some whose faces were muzzed, some whose weren't - as proof of how tactile he is

The report includes photos of Cuomo with a woman described as 'executive assistant one'

The report says Cuomo repeatedly sexually harassed 'Executive Assistant One' when she worked for him by subjecting her to 'close and intimate hugs', 'kisses on the cheeks and forehead', 'at least one kiss on the lips' and 'touching her butt'.

He allegedly referred to her and one other assistant as 'mingle mamas' and asked her repeatedly if she would ever cheat on her husband.

On December 31, 2019, Cuomo asked her to take a selfies of them as they worked together inside his office at the Executive Mansion.

As she held up the camera, Cuomo 'moved his hand to grab her butt cheek and began to rub it' for at least five seconds, the report alleges.

The assistant 'was shaking so much during this interaction' that the photos came out blurry — and Cuomo suggested the two sit down to take one more, the document says.

That photo, showing Cuomo smirking while he sits back on a couch with the aide, is included in the report.

The governor then allegedly told her to send the snap to another aide, Alyssa McGrath - who has also accused Cuomo of sexual harassment - and said 'not to share the photograph with anyone else.'

The woman said she didn't report what happened because she was terrified.

'[T]he way he was so firm with [me] that I couldn't show anyone else that photo, I was just terrified that if I shared what was going on that it would somehow get around,' she told investigators. 

Cuomo admitted that he and the staffer took a photo together, but said it was her idea, because 'he does not like to take selfies.' 

In November 2020, he allegedly groped her breast at the Executive Mansion in Albany.

'For over three months, Executive Assistant #1 kept this groping incident to herself and planned to take it 'to the grave,' but found herself becoming emotional (in a way that was visible to her colleagues in the Executive Chamber) while watching the Governor state, at a press conference on March 3, 2021, that he had never 'touched anyone inappropriately.' 

She then confided in certain of her colleagues, who in turn reported her allegations to senior staff in the Executive Chamber, the report says.

Cuomo, in a defiant address after the report was published, presented a montage of photos of him being tactile with people such as Bill Clinton, his mother and Robert De Niro. He used the photo show to claim he was never abusive, but merely someone who frequently hugged and touched people

Cuomo, in a defiant address after the report was published, presented a montage of photos of him being tactile with people such as Bill Clinton, his mother and Robert De Niro. He used the photo show to claim he was never abusive, but merely someone who frequently hugged and touched people

Cuomo, who served as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration, is seen above planting a kiss on the cheek of former Vice President Al Gore

Cuomo, who served as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration, is seen above planting a kiss on the cheek of former Vice President Al Gore

Cuomo's montage included another image of him planting a kiss on his mother's forehead

Cuomo's montage included another image of him planting a kiss on his mother's forehead

Cuomo included a photo above showing the governor grabbing a young boy's face

Cuomo included a photo above showing the governor grabbing a young boy's face

The assistant was summoned to the mansion under the pretext of having to assist Cuomo with a technical issue involving his phone, the Times Union reported in March. 

The two were alone together on the second floor of the residence when Cuomo allegedly closed the door, reached under the woman's blouse and began to fondle her.  

'You're going to get us in trouble,' the woman said she told Cuomo, who replied, 'I don't care,' according to the report.

His demeanor 'wasn't like 'ha ha,' it was like, 'I don't care.' . . . It was like in this - at that moment he was sexually driven. I could tell and the way he said it, I could tell,' the woman testified.

The governor then 'slid his hand up her blouse, and grabbed her breast, cupping her breast over her bra,' the report alleges. 

A source familiar with the incident told the newspaper that the victim had asked Cuomo to stop. 

This was allegedly the only time he touched her; all other instances involved flirtatious behavior. 

Lindsey Boylan

Boylan, who was the first accuser to speak out publicly, said that Cuomo made inappropriate remarks to her when she worked as chief of staff to the CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation.

Boylan is seen in Washington Square Park in Manhattan on March 20 at a rally demanding Cuomo resign

Boylan is seen in Washington Square Park in Manhattan on March 20 at a rally demanding Cuomo resign

Cuomo said that he found her attractive and that he wanted to play strip poker.

She also said that he physically touched her on various parts of her body, including her waist, legs, and back.

She claimed that once she reported her allegations, she was victimized by his team who ran a smear campaign against her while she ran for office.

The alleged harassment took place between 2015 and 2018. 

Reports released earlier this year revealed that Cuomo's top aide tried to discredit Boylan and allegedly called at least six former employees looking for dirt on her.

Lindsey Boylan was the first accuser to speak out publicly against Cuomo. She says he made inappropriate comments towards her and physically touched her on various parts of her body

Lindsey Boylan was the first accuser to speak out publicly against Cuomo. She says he made inappropriate comments towards her and physically touched her on various parts of her body

Charlotte Bennett

Bennett worked briefly for Cuomo as an aide. She was a health policy adviser in the New York governor's administration, hired in the spring of 2019 and swiftly promoted to senior briefer and executive assistant only a few months later. 

AG Letitia James says her allegations that Cuomo harassed her with a series of comments are corroborated.

Among his alleged remarks are questions about if she'd date older men, asking her help to find a girlfriend, and apparently quizzing her on a sexual assault she had endured.

Charlotte Bennett, who worked for Cuomo last year, told CBS News she felt 'vindicated' by the report

Charlotte Bennett, who worked for Cuomo last year, told CBS News she felt 'vindicated' by the report

Charlotte Bennett worked briefly as a an aide for Cuomo. He allegedly asked her questions about if she'd date older men, asking her help to find a girlfriend, and apparently quizzing her on a sexual assault she had endured

Charlotte Bennett worked briefly as a an aide for Cuomo. He allegedly asked her questions about if she'd date older men, asking her help to find a girlfriend, and apparently quizzing her on a sexual assault she had endured

One of the other comments that he made was that he wanted to ride into the mountains with women.

Bennett had a friendly relationship with Cuomo due to their mutual ties to Westchester County, and saw him as a mentor.

Charlotte Bennett made notes about her experience working with Cuomo which she gave to investigators

Charlotte Bennett made notes about her experience working with Cuomo which she gave to investigators 

In an interview earlier this year, Bennett said her first awkward conversation with Cuomo occurred on May 15, 2020. 

The report included text messages between Charlotte Bennett and another aide, and conversations she had with her parents where she had she had a 'great conversation' with the 'Governor', and others where she says he made her feel uncomfortable.  

'The governor invited me to lift weights with him,' she wrote in one message. 'He challenged me to a push-up competition'.

She had told her parents how he was surprised to learn that she lifted weights and boxed, and that he had asked her to do push-ups in the office.

In another text chain she said Cuomo 'talked about age difference in relationships,' calling his comments 'explicit'. 

In a string of text messages published in the report, Bennett informs select family members, as well as another staffer, of some of Cuomo's alleged inappropriate behaviors
Bennett said she was 'shaking' and 'so upset and so confused'

Charlotte Bennett saw Cuomo as a mentor, but she says he was clear he wanted more

Charlotte Bennett saw Cuomo as a mentor, but she says he was clear he wanted more

The report also included messages in which Bennett tells a confidant that she was incredibly uncomfortable following an interaction in the office. Bennett said she was 'shaking' and 'so upset and so confused'.

In texts to another aide, Bennett said Cuomo repeated to her 'over and over' that she had been 'raped'. 

Cuomo was also recorded singing the popular 1960s love song Do You Love Me?, by the Contours, to Bennett during a phone call in 2019.

According to the New York Post, Bennett initiated the phone call saying, 'Hi, governor. This is Charlotte'.

Cuomo allegedly answered the call with 'Are you ready? Doo, doo, doo,' and proceeded to ask her if she was familiar with the song.

Bennett told him the song was 'before her time'.

Cuomo allegedly continued singing, 'Do you love me? Do you really love me? Do you love me? Do you care?' 

Virginia Limmiatis

Virginia Limmiatis worked for National Grid and was wearing a t-shirt with the company's name written across her chest when she says she met Cuomo.

Virginia Limmiatis worked for the National Grid when Cuomo allegedly groped her

Virginia Limmiatis worked for the National Grid when Cuomo allegedly groped her

He ran his 'two fingers across her chest, pressing down on each of the letters as he did so and reading out the name of the company as he went'.

The report says he then 'leaned in, with his face close to her cheek, and said 'I'm going to say I see a spider on your shoulder' before brushing the area between her shoulder and her breasts'.

'Ms. Limmiatis came forward in this investigation after she heard the governor state, during the March 3, 2021 press conference, that he had never touched anyone inappropriately.

'As Ms. Limmiatis testified to us, 'He is lying again. He touched me inappropriately. I am compelled to come forward to tell the truth... I didn't know how to report what he did to me at the time and was burdened by shame, but not coming forward now would make me complicit in his lie, and I won't do it.'' 

Alyssa McGrath

McGrath, 35, was the first current employee to accuse Cuomo, and works as an executive assistant.

'In his interactions with another executive assistant, Alyssa McGrath, the Governor made inappropriate comments and engaged in harassing conduct, including: regularly asking about her personal life, including her marital status and divorce; asking whether Ms. McGrath would tell on Executive Assistant #1 if she were to cheat on her husband - and whether Ms. McGrath herself planned to 'mingle' with men'.

She also claimed he looked down her shirt to compliment her on her necklace, told her that she's beautiful in Italian and kissed her on the forehead during an office Christmas party in 2019. 

Alyssa McGrath was quizzed by Cuomo about her marital status and divorce and kissed on the forehead by Cuomo at an office Christmas party

Alyssa McGrath was quizzed by Cuomo about her marital status and divorce and kissed on the forehead by Cuomo at an office Christmas party

Her attorney, Mariann Wang, said on Tuesday that McGrath and another accuser she represents, Virginia Limmiatis, were relieved.

The two women 'feel profoundly grateful to the AG's team for taking this seriously and examining their reports thoroughly and carefully.'

Wang continued: 'Cuomo's misogyny and abuse cannot be denied. He has been doing this for years, without any repercussions. 

'He should not be in charge of our government and should not be in any position of power over anyone else.'

'Kaitlin'

Kaitlin - whose second name is not public - met the governor in 2016 at a fundraising event where they were photographed together in a dance pose.

Afterwards, she was hired by him in a junior position but given a salary of $120,000 - a figure so high she says it was laughed at in her interview.

Ana Liss

Liss, 35, worked in the Executive Chamber between 2013 and 2015, during which time she says the governor subjected her to sexual harassment that included being called 'sweetheart' and 'darling', and placing his hand around her lower waist.

Ana Liss (pictured) worked in the Executive Chamber between 2013 and 2015, during which time she says the governor subjected her to sexual harassment that included being called 'sweetheart' and 'darling', and placing his hand around her lower waist

Ana Liss (pictured) worked in the Executive Chamber between 2013 and 2015, during which time she says the governor subjected her to sexual harassment that included being called 'sweetheart' and 'darling', and placing his hand around her lower waist

He also kissed her hands and cheek, she said.

Despite feeling uncomfortable, she says she did not report them because 'for whatever reason, in his office the rules were different.' 

She added: 'It was just, you should view it as a compliment if the Governor finds you aesthetically pleasing enough, if he finds you interesting enough to ask questions like that.

'And so even though it was strange and uncomfortable and technically not permissible in a typical workplace environment, I was in this mindset that it was the twilight zone and...the typical rules did not apply.' 

Anna Ruch

Ruch was a guest at a wedding, as was the governor, in 2019 when she says he put his hands on a section of her back that was exposed by a cut-out in her dress.

She grabbed his wrist to move it away and he responded by saying 'wow, you're aggressive,' according to the report.

Cuomo then grabbed her face with both of his hands and said 'can I kiss you?'

He was pictured kissing her cheek.

Anna Ruch was a guest at a wedding, as was Cuomo, in 2019. She says he put his hands on a section of her back that was exposed by a cut-out in her dress

Anna Ruch was a guest at a wedding, as was Cuomo, in 2019. She says he put his hands on a section of her back that was exposed by a cut-out in her dress

Karen Hinton

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. 

She was not among the 11 women on who the attorney general based her report. 

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

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,' he added.

Karen Hinton, 62, (pictured above) 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

Karen Hinton, 62, (pictured above) 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

In response, Hinton told the Post that 'attacking the accuser is the classic playbook of powerful men trying to protect themselves' as she said that watching Cuomo's apologetic press conference 'drove me crazy'.  

'I really thought the flirt wasn't about having sex,' Hinton said. 'It was about controlling the relationship.' 

At the time of the alleged encounter in the hotel room, Cuomo would have been leading the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Hinton was a consultant after moving to California. 

The Post reports that Hinton and Cuomo have a contentious past and that they had a major blow up before she left the agency in 1999, remaining on as a consultant.  

She had joined Cuomo in Los Angeles to promote a HUD program and later had dinner in his hotel before allegedly receiving a phone call from him stating: 'Why don't you come to my room and let's catch up?'

Hinton said that she began to think it was unusual when Cuomo asked her to avoid being seen by Clarence Day, his longtime head of security, but that she continued to his room anyway. 

'I paused for a second,' she told the Post about noticing the low lights in the room. 'Why are the lights so low? He never keeps the lights this low.'  

Hinton said they sat on opposite couches and talked about their work at HUD and that Cuomo asked her personal questions about her life and marriage - including if she would leave her husband. 

She claims that she grew self-conscious after speaking so much about herself and went to leave.

'I stand up and say, 'It's getting late, I need to go,' ' she said, describing the embrace Cuomo gave her as 'very long, too long, too tight, too intimate'.

'He pulls me back for another intimate embrace,' she said. 'I thought at that moment it could lead to a kiss, it could lead to other things, so I just pull away again, and I leave.' 

Hinton told the Post that she viewed the move as a 'power play' for 'manipulation and control' and that the pair never discussed the incident again, although they have remained in touch. 

She has both publicly praised Cuomo and been critical of him, especially when working as press secretary in 2015 and 2016 for New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, with whom the governor has an intense rivalry. 

The Post spoke to two people who confirmed that Hinton had told them about the hotel incident after it happened. 

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