08. March 2021, 05:55
08. March 2021, 05:55
Update: March 8, 2021, 5:58 p.m.
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New York (dpa) Two other women accuse New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of harassment, and an important party colleague has now turned against him. But the 63-year-old remains stubborn.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is under pressure over new harassment allegations.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo does not want to resign despite new harassment allegations. It would be “anti-democratic” to step down on the basis of allegations alone, he said in a conference call. “There is no way I will resign,” he added.
Subsequently, the Democrat Andrea Stewart-Cousins - the chairwoman of the state Senate – demanded that Cuomo resign. “There’s a new report every day that takes attention away from government work,” said Stewart-Cousins. «We have to rule without daily distractions. Governor Cuomo must resign. “
Carl E. Heastie, majority leader of the Democrats in the state parliament, was also critical. “I think it is time for the governor to seriously consider whether he can still effectively serve the needs of the people of New York,” said Heastie. Similar to a state prime minister in Germany, Cuomo heads the cabinet of the state of New York as governor. It relies on the Senate and the state parliament as legislative bodies.
Two other ex-employees had made allegations against the politician in the US media. Cuomo called her to his dimly lit hotel room after an event in 2000 and hugged her, Karen Hinton told the Washington Post in a report.
When she backed away, Cuomo pulled her back to himself, the woman was quoted as saying, who was an advisor to Cuomo, who was then active in the building ministry. You have loosened and left the room. Cuomo’s spokesman, Peter Ajemian, vehemently denied their allegations: “That did not happen,” he told the Washington Post. Hinton was an opponent of the governor and her claims from 21 years ago were fabricated, he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, another ex-employee brought charges against him of inappropriate workplace behavior. Ana Liss told the Wall Street Journal that he asked if she had a boyfriend and kissed her hand. He also hugged her at a reception in 2014, kissed her on both cheeks and put his arm around her lower back. Then they turned to a photographer who took a picture of Cuomo’s hand on the woman’s waist.
This increases the number of allegations against the governor. Three women had previously accused Cuomo, who was elected for a third term in 2018, of having touched or verbally harassed them inappropriately in the past. Cuomo had already apologized during the week, but declined to resign. He promised to cooperate fully with an investigation initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210308-99-729702 / 4
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