Ana Liss, one of more than half a dozen women who have accused the New York government, Andrew Cuomo, of sexual misconduct, said in a statement on Thursday that she sat for two hours with the state’s attorney general, who allegations investigated.
She said she told Attorney General Letitia James of “cases of unsolicited attention” she had received from the governor, as well as “of the sexually hostile work environment perpetuated by him and senior staff.”
“During my time in the Executive Chamber, it has been a toxic, verbally abusive, retaliatory workplace, especially for young women like me,” she said. “Sexual harassment on behalf of the governor is an important part of the investigation, but he is not and was not the only person responsible for offensive conduct.”
NEW YORK LAWYERS SEND LETTER TO ASK CUOMO’S RETIREMENT
Examples of the alleged behavior, according to her, range from “scathological name-calling to direct objectification of female bodies.”
Liss worked as Cuomo’s assistant between 2013 and 2015 – and she said she was excited early on about the prospect of a prestigious community ending up in the governors’ office.
Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York, speaks to people at a vaccination site in New York on March 8, 2021.
(Photo by Seth Wenig / Pool / AFP via Getty Images)
She accused him of touching her back at various times and kissing her hand, calling her ‘beloved’ at work, and asking about her personal life and other alleged inappropriate actions.
In a tweet Thursday, she explained that she had a framed photo of the governor and her previous support for him.
“I am proud to have worked and survived there,” she wrote. “He is easier to tolerate if he is not your boss. I also only came to my mind days ago that I could or should speak without fear of retaliation.”
CUOMO STATEMENTS ANA LISS, KAREN HINTON CLAIMS GOVERNOR CREATED TOXIC WORKPLACE FOR WOMEN
But, as she told WNYC on Wednesday, it was not as the standards required to wear ‘high heels’ and ‘look a certain way’ and act when the governor was there.
“I look forward to continued collaboration with this effort, and I support others who may want to come forward,” she concluded.
Cuomo’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
But the governor is facing increasing backlash from both parties for refusing to resign actions besieged by both the sexual misconduct and a scandal over his government’s underreporting of coronavirus deaths in nursing homes.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Democratic state legislator Ron Kim, who has emerged as a leading critic of Cuomo’s actions since the details of the alleged nursing home came to light, linked all the controversy Thursday to one issue.
“Abuse of power is about doing what you want,” Kim tweeted. “Hide the death toll, harass women, sexually retaliate against your victims, reward loyalists with cancellations and vaccinations, hold press conferences without press, share only what you want, and use your office to bury the rest.”