Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) called for an independent investigation led by the attorney general into allegations of sexual misconduct by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Over the weekend, a second woman came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against the politician: former assistant Charlotte Bennett, 25, said The New York Times that the 63-year-old Cuomo frequently asked her about her sex life and asked her if she had ‘ever been with an older man’. Bennett came to the fore after Lindsey Boylan, a former government official for economic development, said the governor harassed her on several occasions between 2016 and 2018, including giving her an unsolicited kiss on the lips in his Manhattan office. Ocasio-Cortez tweeted on Sunday that the claims should be investigated. “Lindsey Boylan and Charlotte Bennett’s detailed reports of sexual harassment by the Cuomo government are extremely serious and painful to read,” she tweeted. “There must be an independent inquiry – not under the direction of an individual elected by the governor, but through the office of the attorney general.” Cuomo denied the allegations.
On Sunday, Cuomo’s special adviser and senior adviser to Cuomo issued a statement on AOC’s public demands. She wrote that the governor’s office should have a review of the claims against sexual harassment made against the governor in a way that can not be blamed. She said that although they had chosen former federal judge Barbara Jones, they had now decided to change their strategy “to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence from interference in politics.” The office asked the Attorney General of the State of New York and the Chief Justice of the Court of Appeal to ‘jointly elect an independent and qualified attorney in private practice without political affiliation to thoroughly review the case and issue a public report. . ”
New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Sunday: “Allegations of sexual harassment should always be taken seriously. There needs to be a real independent investigation to thoroughly review these allegations against the governor, and I’m ready to oversee the investigation and make any appointments necessary. ”